The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has demanded that henceforth Nigeria will handle its feeding in Muna Arafat.
The commission has condemn in strong terms how the Company of Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African and Non-Arab Countries handled the welfare of Nigerian Pilgrims at the holy sites during a meeting on Sunday 2nd July.
Speking at the meeting with the Mutawifs at the Umul jud office in Makka, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan Chairman /CEO NAHCON, expressed his dissatisfaction over the way and manner Nigerian Pilgrims were treated in the areas of Tent/accomodation spaces, Feeding and the overall ambience of the area allocated Nigeria.
Alhaji Hassan noted that the experience was embarrassing as it placed NAHCON in a helpless and hapless situation -having to watch some pilgrims suffer the consequences of not having tent spaces under the scorching sun.
The chairman called the attention of Mutawifs to the fact that their services at Muna is a breach in the ‘terms of service’ agreement reached between them and demanded for a refund -promising that the commission will be reviewing her business relations with the company having gone through such embarrassing times at Masha’ir.
Zikrullah highlighted the dissapointing sceneries that confronted Nigerian Pilgrims during their stay in Munawhich includes unpleasant food which usually comes late or not served at all, poor sanitation of the area allocated Nigerian Pilgrims during Masha’ir and most worrying, the unavailability of enough tent spaces -a situation that saw many Nigerian Pilgrims sleeping under harsh weather conditions of up to 45° and 47°
On their part, the Company of Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African and Non-Arab Countries through her vice president, Badr Bafqih thanked NAHCON for bringing up their concerns responsively as a body responsible for about Ninety Five thousand (95,000) Nigerian Pilgrims -stating that all areas of concerns as have been raised will be promptly looked into with a view to ensuring that the demands of the commission on behalf of the pilgrims are met.
He noted that Nigeria is a partner the company cannot afford to see offended and pledged the commitment of the company to review all the issues raised in good time and to iron out all the misgivings experienced in Mina by Nigerian Pilgrims for the continuous partnership of Saudi and Nigeria.
Recalled that a similar situation occurred in 2022 wherw the Mutawifs failed in their duties to supply all the needs of Nigerians, the company later apologised and promised a refund for the none performance of their services..