The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has confirmed that no fewer than 54 Nigerian pilgrims have been hospitalised in Saudi Arabia during the ongoing 2026 Hajj exercise, while four deaths have been recorded.

The Head of the National Medical Team disclosed this on Thursday while briefing journalists in Makkah on the health and welfare situation of Nigerian pilgrims participating in the pilgrimage.

He said the commission currently operates five licensed medical clinics across Saudi Arabia to attend to Nigerian pilgrims, including two in Madinah and three in Makkah.

According to him, the Madinah facilities are located at Alsham’s Madinah Hotel and Buna Toiba within the Markazia area, while the Makkah clinics are situated in Misfalah, Sharasittin and Niger House at Yabalash.

He explained that the medical operations commenced in Madinah shortly after the arrival of Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia on April 28, following approval and licensing by Saudi health authorities.

However, he noted that unlike previous years, Saudi regulations did not permit the establishment of medical outposts, restricting operations to full clinics only—an arrangement he said has increased pressure on available facilities.

The medical team disclosed that over 24 patients had been referred to Saudi hospitals in Madinah, while more than 30 others were transferred from Makkah clinics for advanced treatment, particularly from the Misfalah facility, which caters for pilgrims from about 19 states.

Severely ill patients are being referred to specialised Saudi hospitals, including King Abdulaziz Hospital, through emergency response services.

On fatalities, the commission confirmed that four Nigerian pilgrims—all women—had died so far during the exercise