Residents of Badagry and Ojo Local Government Areas intending to participate in the 2026 Holy Pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have been directed to report at the General Hospital, Badagry, as the Lagos State Government commenced its mandatory medical screening exercise for prospective pilgrims.

The screening, which forms a critical requirement for Hajj participation, is being coordinated by the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board and will run from Wednesday, January 14, to Saturday, January 24, 2026, across designated centres in the state.

Confirming the development in a statement issued on Tuesday, the Secretary of the Board, Mr AbdulHakeem Ajomagberin, said the exercise is designed to ensure that all intending pilgrims are medically fit to undertake the rigorous spiritual journey.

According to him, the screening programme is being conducted by the Board’s medical team under the leadership of Dr Mazeedat Erinosho and will take place at 10 carefully selected centres to guarantee accessibility and smooth operations.

Ajomagberin explained that pilgrims from Badagry and Ojo have been specifically assigned to the General Hospital, Badagry, while other Local Government Areas have been grouped and allocated to centres across the state, including Agege, Ikeja, Mushin, Ibeju-Lekki, Ikorodu, Alimosho, Surulere and designated diagnostic facilities at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.

He stressed that participation in the medical screening is compulsory, warning that any pilgrim who fails to undergo the exercise would be disqualified from obtaining a visa from Saudi authorities.

“In line with international health requirements and Saudi regulations, attendance at the medical screening is mandatory for all intending pilgrims,” Ajomagberin stated.

In a related development, the Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has appointed Local Government Schedule Officers to coordinate and manage pilgrims’ welfare both within Nigeria and in Saudi Arabia.

The appointments, approved by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Mr Olanrewaju Ibrahim #Layode, were announced during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the Board’s Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja. The meeting was also attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Islamic Matters, Hon. Ahmad Abdullahi Jebe.

Ajomagberin charged the newly appointed officers to discharge their responsibilities with professionalism and dedication, assuring that the Lagos State Government remains committed to ensuring a safe, orderly and comfortable pilgrimage experience for all pilgrims from the state.