*Photo L-R: Alhaji Hassan, Senator Bulkachuwa and Ambassador Lawan*
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has demanded refund from the Saudi Arabian company that handled feeding of Nigerian pilgrims at Muna.
The request was made through a letter by NAHCON Chairman, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan and dated July 10,2022.
Alhaji Hassan disclosed this on Sunday when he visited pilgrims in their at Muna, Saudi Arabia.
Titled Letter of complaint on Mashai’r Feeding Services For Hajj 2022, the letter was addressed to The Chairman, Company of Mutawifs for Pilgrims of African Non-Arab Countries.
He said in the letter that; ” I have the honour to bring to your kind attention complaints on inadequate and poor standard of meals supplied to Nigerian pilgrims at Muna, particularly those of the underlined states.
“If not that it was quickly addressed by the Commission,it would have led to serious security breach at the Mashair.”
Alhaji Hassan listed the affected States and their complaints thus:
1: Lagos and Ogun: Tasteless food. No water of juice. Late delivery. Dinner and breakfast rejected.
2: Borno,Adamawa and Edo: Lateness in delivery of food. Shortage of food.
3: Katsina, Ebonyi, Ekiti and Delta: Breakfast without tea. No meat in some meals.
4: Tour Operators: Food served without water, bad food. Riot almost broke out.
5: Kwara, Oyo and Kogi: Shortage of food, lateness in supply of meals, monotony in meals. Meals served without meat, shortage of meals, absence of water and juice.
The NAHCON Chairman therefore said “In view of the above, The Commission deemed that you refund to the aggrieved pilgrims total of unsupplied and rejected meals.”
Addressing pilgrims in their tents, Alhaji Hassan recalled that state pilgrims welfare boards were in the past responsible for engaging catering companies but said the reverse was the case this year as the Saudi Arabian company in question insisted on taking over the function.
He commended Nigerian pilgrims for their maturity and perseverance and assured that NAHCON will press for the refund for the shortfall.
The NAHCON delegations to the pilgrims tents were in three groups with the NAHCON Chairman leading Team A.
In the Chairman’s Team were Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs; Ambassador Yahaya Lawan, Nigerian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia; NAHCON Board members and Commissioners as well as other top officials of the Commission.
At the different tents, the NAHCON Chairman told the pilgrims that their complaints for the inclusion of local menu in the feeding arrangements have been noted and would be taken into consideration during subsequent Hajj operations.
Also addressing the pilgrims, Senator Bulkachuwa and Ambassador Lawan said the NAHCON Teams were going round the tents to ask after the welfare of pilgrims, sound them out and take suggestions from them.
The pilgrims commended NAHCON for been concerned about their welfare.
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