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As complaints continue to trail the poor treatment meted out to 95,000 Nigerians in Mina, Saudi Arabia, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHOUN), and State Pilgrims Welfare Boards (SPWB) Sunday slammed the company, Mutawifs, tasked with the responsibility of providing service for pilgrims in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
NAHCON and others lambasted the group for its inability to provide adequate tents, food, and other services for Nigerians that performed 2023 hajj during the post-Arafat meeting.
Blueprint reports that 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims were subjected to hardship in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims alongside other millions of pilgrims performed the 2023 hajj shuttle between Mina to Arafah, Muzdalifah, and remained in Mina till Friday to perform their hajj rites.
Before the commencement of hajj, NAHCON was compelled by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to pay the Muassassah, company Mutawifs for pilgrims from African non Arab countries to provide transportation, tenth, food, and other services for the 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims but failed in its responsibilities.
The Saudi Arabia firm only provided bed space for 43,000 pilgrims instead of 95,000. The food provided to Nigerian pilgrims in Mina during their 5- day stay was inadequate and the environment un kept.
This led to anger, tension and uproar during the hajj exercise. Though, Company Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non-Arab Countries on Tuesday provided an additional 10,000 capacity tent which didn’t solve the problem.
At the meeting, NAHCON chairman, Alhaji Zikrullahi Kunle Hassan, slammed the company for the treatment meted out to 95,000 Nigerian pilgrims.
He said Nigerians were squeezed into the same capacity of tents they gave them last year when the country had 43,000 pilgrims, in place of 95,000 that performed this year’s hajj.
He stated further that, “If two brothers come out of the room laughing, it means they didn’t tell themselves the truth. But if they come out frowning, it means they told each other the truth and they can make progress.
“At this point, we have to tell each other the truth. We have to. Nigerian pilgrims were subjected to untold hardship and they are so disappointed in us even though we have repeatedly told them that the issues of tents and food are not in our hands and that we can only complain to the authorities.
“Time has come for you to hand off our food. We have argued repeatedly that we can handle catering by ourselves and you can regulate. This is because no matter how much money you spend on food, if you don’t do it the Nigerian way, it will not be eaten and the money is wasted. I am making this demand on behalf of Nigerian pilgrims and stakeholders.
“I am also on behalf of the Nigerian delegation demanding a refund for the money of the food that you didn’t supply,” the NAHCON boss said.(Blueprint)
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