From Furera Mohammed, Madinah
Hundreds of Kwara State pilgrims in the holy land for the 2024 Hajj have expressed their dismay over a severe food shortage.
The pilgrims, who are part of the batch that arrived in Madinah just yesterday, were shocked to find the meals provided to them sparse, with tables empty immediately after Ishai prayers.
Many of the pilgrims reported surviving on just one small meal yesterday. Some have resorted to purchasing additional food from local shops at inflated prices to avoid going hungry.
One pilgrim, Hajiya Ummi, expressed her frustration and disappointment with the situation.
“We came all the way from Kwara State to fulfill our religious obligation, but now we are struggling to find enough food to eat. It is unacceptable and unfair,” she lamented.
Another pilgrim echoed her sentiments, saying, “We were promised that all our needs would be taken care of during the pilgrimage, but that has not been the case. We are being left to fend for ourselves.”
Our reporter gathered that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) is responsible for providing food for Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah, but not alone.
According to information released by NAHCON, they have engaged the services of Nigerian caterers to partner with Saudi Arabian caterers to provide food for Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah.
In addition, NAHCON has also secured a deal with Saudi Arabia service providers to ease the comfort of Nigerians during the 2024 pilgrimage
For the 2024 Hajj, Nigerian pilgrims paid between N8.2 million and N8.4 million, and the federal government subsidized N90 billion.
It is important to note that while NAHCON is responsible for feeding and accommodation in Madina, state boards are responsible for accommodation and feeding in Makkah, while NAHCON plays a supervisory role.
