Chairman National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan, has met with the members of the Tawafah Company for Pilgrims of African Non-Arab Countries known as the Mu’assasa on poor feeding arrangement during the pilgrims’ stay in Mina and Arafat.
The meeting, according to NAHCON chairman, was to resolve two crucial 2022 hajj operational matters, which were the Private Tour Operators IBAN account accreditation setback and the poor feeding arrangement during the pilgrims’ stay in Mina and Arafat, even as the commission requested for refund on behalf of the pilgrims.
Chairman ofMu’assasa, Ahmad Sindi, stated that the issue of IBAN account was generally affected by lateness in this year’s hajj announcement and specifically the mismatch in the Account Numbers and Account Holders’ names on one hand, and inaccurate Account Numbers.
Sindi assured that the monies are intact and will be returned to NAHCON’s account as soon as the Mu’assasa received a formal letter of request to that effect.
On the Mina feeding arrangement, Sindi said the Tawafa Company on its part as from next year, will work with only well-established caterers that have adequate manpower and sufficient facilities.
He said Mu’assasa may require bank guarantees before accepting any recommended caterer.
He said: “This will happen because of the disappointment they also witnessed this year from the engaged caterers, though the company initially got the impression that they were satisfactory.”
Since the comfort of the pilgrims is their foremost priority, Sindi said during one of his tours in Mina, he had to order for substitute meal to one of the field offices after complaints by the pilgrims on the food quality and quality they were supplied with. He said the extra meal was at no cost to the pilgrims or the caterer and promised to explore NAHCON’s request for refund.