Fire guts hotel housing 484 Nigerian pilgrims in Mecca

A fire incident on Saturday affected a hotel in Makkah where more than 480 Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj were accommodated. The affected hotel, Imaratus Sanan, located along Shari Mansur Street, was hosting 484 pilgrims under six Nigerian Private Tour Operator companies.

According to a statement from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), all pilgrims were safe, having left earlier for Mina to partake in the symbolic stoning ritual when the fire broke out around noon (Saudi local time). No casualties were recorded.

Confirming the incident, NAHCON spokesperson Fatima Usara said the Commission’s Chairman and CEO, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, conveyed his sympathy to the affected pilgrims and praised the swift response of Saudi emergency services and hotel staff in containing the blaze.

“Thankfully, no lives were lost, and the fire was quickly brought under control before it could spread further within the building,” Usara noted.

In the aftermath, Professor Usman, accompanied by Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti, visited the hotel site to assess the damage and ensure immediate support for the pilgrims.

The Chairman directed that all affected pilgrims be promptly relocated to alternative accommodation. He assured that NAHCON would work closely with the tour operators involved to cushion the impact and ensure the pilgrims’ comfort and safety.

“We are grateful to Almighty Allah that no life was lost. The Commission is taking all necessary steps to support and relocate the pilgrims as quickly as possible,” Professor Usman stated during the site inspection.

The new accommodation facility has already been inspected and approved, with relocation efforts underway. NAHCON also acknowledged the cooperation of Saudi authorities and hotel staff in managing the incident effectively.

Further updates are expected to follow as the situation continues to be monitored.