The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has told the Authorities of Saudi Arabia to handover the feeding of Nigerian pilgrims, in Muna and Arafah, to the commission in order to avoid the reoccurrence of poor feeding system that played out in both sites during the just concluded 2023 Hajj exercise.
The Chairman/CEO of the NAHCON, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan made the request on Sunday (July 2, 2023) during a meeting with the leadership of Company Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non Arab Countries, in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
Alhaji Hassan equally demanded for more spacious tents accommodation in Muna and Arafah for Nigerian pilgrims to have value for their money and to perform Hajj rituals in habitable and conducive environments.
The Commission said that, the demand became imperative in view of the poor handling of feeding and tents accommodation at Muna and Arafah, a situation he described as beyond the control of the Commission.
He explained that the return of feeding of pilgrims to the Commission and State Welfare Boards would put a lasting solution to the sufferings being experienced by the pilgrims at Muna and Arafah during hajji exercises.
He said, “Feeding should be returned to us. We will manage it by ourselves. We should be in the best position to screen our vendors and make sure the foods served are of the Nigerian taste.
He added that, “Muna was also turned to market zone by invaders and essence of Hajj was almost lost. We are not to check that as we are not in the position but Saudi Government.
“The feedback from our pilgrims, is tent lacking issue. The same space provided us last year when he had 43,000 was the same allocated to us this year that we have 95, 000 slots, there is no way it will be sufficient.
He noted further that, the development has exposed many pilgrims into series of health challenges since the pilgrims cannot sleep at tent due to inadequate of tents at Muna, saying that a large number of pilgrims slept outside.
Hassan however said it was high time the leadership of Mutawwifs allow the NAHCON to inspect the tents accommodation a month to the commencement of the hajji operations.
He added that early inspection would afford the commission ample opportunity to point to where there is need for necessary adjustments before the arrival of the guests of Allah in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Executive Secretary, Adamawa state Muslim Pilgrimage Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Salihu who spoke on behalf of 36 state boards and FCT said the situations in Muna and Arafah during this year’s Hajj were very horrible and strenuous and called on Saudi Government to look into those challenges and ready to agree on a win-win situation with Nigeria.
“Interest of every business man is that the end user must be satisfied, if that could not be achieved, then the idea of doing business is defeated. Mutawwif must not insist to feed pilgrims, besides most of foods served were alien to Nigerian pilgrims” he said.
Responding, the Vice President of Mutawwifs, Dr Bandar Ba Faqih, apologiesed to NAHCON and pledged to escalate all the identified complaints to the appropriate quarters for necessary action and adjustments so as to have seamless hajj operations in the subsequent Hajj exercise.
Ends
