Hajj 2025: Why governors must act fast to upgrade transit camps

State governors across Nigeria, including the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been urged to prioritise the renovation of Hajj transit camps in their jurisdictions ahead of the 2025 pilgrimage.

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a civil society organisation monitoring Hajj operations, raised concerns about the poor state of some transit camps, stressing the need for immediate upgrades to ensure a safe and comfortable stay for intending pilgrims before their departure to Saudi Arabia.

“It is well known that pilgrims spend several days at these camps before airlift, yet reports indicate that some facilities are in dire need of renovation,” IHR National Coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, said in a statement.

While calling for swift intervention, IHR commended some state governments, including Bauchi, Adamawa, Kaduna, Sokoto, and the FCT, for their efforts in modernising and upgrading their Hajj camps.

The group also praised the Osun State government for its ambitious plan to construct a world-class permanent transit camp, urging swift completion of the project.

“In other Hajj-performing countries, transit camps serve multiple functions, including education and orientation for pilgrims. Nigeria should adopt this approach to enhance the overall Hajj experience,” the organisation noted.

To justify the investment in upgrading the camps, IHR suggested that the facilities could be utilised for commercial purposes during off-seasons, such as housing hotels and event centres, to generate revenue for state pilgrim boards and local governments.

With the first airlifts scheduled for late April 2025, the group called on governors to act swiftly, ensuring that pilgrims embark on their spiritual journey under better conditions.