By Abdulkadir Aliyu Shehu The Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has commenced the identification, verification, and handover process of extra luggage belonging to pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj operation, following the successful return of the items from Saudi Arabia to Nigeria.
The development has brought relief to affected pilgrims whose excess luggage was seized by airlines during the Hajj exercise due to restrictions on the approved luggage allowance.
The Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Saadu Hassan, disclosed this while briefing journalists, explaining that the recovered luggage belonged to pilgrims whose bags were confiscated by airlines after exceeding the permitted weight limit.
According to Alhaji Saadu, the challenge emerged after some airlines operating in Saudi Arabia strictly enforced luggage regulations, leading to the seizure of additional bags carried by some pilgrims.
He explained that pilgrims were permitted to carry luggage within the approved allowance of 8 kilogrammes, but some travelled with extra bags beyond the authorised limit.
The Executive Secretary noted that many pilgrims, particularly women, often carry multiple bags during their return journey, with some placing luggage on their heads or carrying it on their backs, which contributed to the situation.
He said the excess luggage was seized by airline authorities at Saudi airports and left behind after the affected pilgrims had already returned to Nigeria.
Alhaji Saadu explained that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) later directed state pilgrims’ boards to identify, retrieve, and ensure the return of the abandoned luggage belonging to their pilgrims.
“NAHCON asked us to come and inspect the luggage retrieved from our pilgrims by the airlines because they were considered excess above the approved allowance,” he stated.
He disclosed that the Gombe State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board successfully retrieved the luggage and ensured it was properly profiled in accordance with the required luggage standards.
The Executive Secretary revealed that 13 bags belonging to Gombe pilgrims were recovered, with each bag weighing approximately 23 kilogrammes.
He added that the Board incurred additional expenses in the process, including excess luggage payments and transportation costs, to ensure the safe return of the items.
Alhaji Saadu appreciated the support and cooperation of officials from other states who assisted in transporting the luggage back to Nigeria through the Yola departure route.
He explained that by the time the recovered luggage arrived, all Gombe pilgrims had already returned home and their original luggage had been successfully delivered.
“All our pilgrims’ luggage had already returned. The only challenge left was how to retrieve these extra bags from Saudi Arabia back to Nigeria,” he said.
The Board Executive Secretary disclosed that officials were deployed to collect the luggage after they arrived in Nigeria, adding that the Board spent 2,000 Saudi Riyals during the recovery process and an additional N100,000 for transportation from Adamawa to Gombe.
He said the ongoing exercise was designed to promote transparency, accountability, and fairness in returning the recovered items to their rightful owners.
According to him, affected pilgrims have been invited to the Board’s office to provide details of their missing luggage and the items they believe were inside.
He explained that before the bags are opened, each pilgrim would be required to give a clear description of the luggage and its contents to aid proper identification.
The pilgrims are also expected to write their names and provide details of the missing items to ensure that only genuine owners receive their belongings.
Alhaji Saadu said the verification process was necessary to prevent wrongful claims and guarantee that every recovered property reaches the rightful owner.
He assured pilgrims that the Board remains committed to protecting their interests and ensuring a smooth conclusion to all matters arising from the 2026 Hajj operation.
However, the Executive Secretary warned that the Board would not tolerate a repeat of the situation in future Hajj operations, urging pilgrims to strictly adhere to approved luggage regulations and guidelines provided before departure.
He stressed that compliance with luggage rules is important to avoid unnecessary challenges, additional expenses, and delays during the return journey of pilgrims.
Alhaji Saadu further advised intending pilgrims to cooperate with the Board’s officials and follow all instructions to ensure a smooth and successful Hajj experience in subsequent operations.