NAHCON, Mu’assasa meet on poor feeding of Nigerian pilgrims at Muna, agree on basis for refund

Representatives of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), led by Director Administration and Human Resources, Dr Ibrahim Sodangi, have met with representatives of the company for the Mutawwifs of non-Arab African countries (Mu’assasa) to reconcile the Masha’ir feeding arrangement.

It would be recalled that many complaints followed this year’s feeding in Muna and Arafat that forced the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, to seek for refund for unsatisfactory services to the pilgrims.

It was agreed during the discussion held on Saturday, July 30,that NAHCON would issue letters to state pilgrims’ welfare boards and licensed tour operators inviting complaints/ appraisals for feeding services rendered during the Masha’ir stay. They will have 72 hours to respond to the letter. Where no complaint is received after expiration of deadline, it will be presumed that the service was satisfactory.

Sodangi gave the representatives of the Mu’assasa the go ahead to make the necessary deductions according to complaints that will be submitted to them by the affected states once the facts are verified.

He reminded that the Mu’assasa drafted the agreement and conditions of services with the caterers after which they signed and awarded contract letters to the caterers, therefore, NAHCON expects them to do the needful in the interest of Nigerian pilgrims.

In his response, the Head of Feeding Division of the company, Mr. Saleh Hashim Fakhrani stressed that the observation from end users of the services(States and Tour operators) will guide in the determination of the amount due to the caterers for the Mashaeer feeding.

Following the development, letters have been sent to the state boards and tour operators for compliance, Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON said in a statement on Monday.