By; Abdull-Azeez Ahmed Kadir, Makkah
The inconveniences suffered by Nigerian pilgrims in Mina Saudi Arabia, following insufficient tents that saw some pilgrims sleeping outside in harsh weather with no food and packed full toilet facilities is associated to the invasion of their tents by non pilgrims before their arrivals.
Umar Bader Ali Bafakeek, the Chief Executive of Company Mutawifs for Pilgrims from African Non Arab Countries made this assertion at a meeting with the Nigerian Hajj authorities in Makkah.
Bafakeek alleged that some of these non pilgrims mostly of African origins irregular migrants in Saudi Arabia went as far as printing fake hand bands, other Hajj paraphernalia similar to that of Nigerian pilgrims.
He stressed that the company was able to detect these through reports from intelligence gatherings among others.
But in response to the claims, the Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria NAHCON, Zikrullah Kunle Hassan said it was the fault of the Mutawif as NAHCON had no control over those places. He stressed that the company Mutawif should have secured the tents until the arrival of the Nigerian pilgrims.
While disagreeing that the tents provided were not enough to accommodate the 95,000 thousand Nigerian pilgrims, Hassan also decried the poor menu, non and late serving of foods; both breakfast and dinner to the pilgrims, insufficient toilet facilities that saw pilgrims queueing for a long hour and some bathing and urinating outside, lack of water supply in some conveniences among others.
He assured of writing a letter to request for refund from the company for such non and poor service provision.
Also speaking on behalf of the 36 States Pilgrims Boards and the Federal Capital Territory, the Executive Secretary of Adamawa State Board, Salihu Abubakar said the situation was so bad in Mina that from 8th to 10 Dhul Hijjah, some pilgrims were not fed, nor given drinking water.
He caution the company against prioritising profit above effective service delivery for guests of Allah whose fury and prayers are dangerous for anyone or their business.
Abubakar cautioned that every businessman’s interest is to satisfy the end user, and once the end use is not satisfied, they have no business. He admonished them not to loose their image for money. He called on the company to hands off feeding and alow each State to take charge of such.
Also reacting, the representative of the Tour Operators who ferried international pilgrims to the holy land, Suleiman Yahaya Nasidi said they are businessmen and see things from different perspectives, stressing that they were not thankful for any service rendered by the company.
Nasidi said even if the company refunded money for services not, or poorly rendered, their images before their clients cannot be refunded.
He reiterated the fact that whatever amount they are paying, the Company Mutawif should remember that the pilgrims paid to come and serve Allah.
Bafakeek however promised to review all the concerns raised by the stakeholders to be utilised for improved and better future exercises.
