Despite the clamour by state governments to allow state pilgrims’ and welfare board to provide food that Nigerians, who participate in hajj, authorities in Saudi have introduced a new policy that will see Saudi Arabia companies to be in charge of food and accommodation of pilgrims during the holy pilgrimage from 2025.
Daily Trust reports that the companies often referred to as Mu’assasa took over feeding and accommodation of pilgrims while in the city of Muna, during the five days period of the holy pilgrimage in 2022.
The five-day procession is referred to as Masha’ir.
However, the lack of food indigenous to Nigerians have led to calls for the companies to be stripped of the responsibilities for the pilgrims to get food they are used to.
But a statement by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) stated that the authorities in the kingdom had introduced new rules that would see the companies to be in charge of the feeding of the pilgrims during their stay throughout the period.
The statement signed by NAHCON’s spokesperson, Fatima Sanda Usara, noted that the policy would affect all countries participating in the 2025 hajj.
She stated that the information was relayed to chairmen of Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards (MPWB) on Monday, September 23, 2024 during a crucial meeting with NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operation, Prince Anofi Olanrewaju Elegushi.
“A key highlight from the virtual discussion with Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (MoHU) was the announcement of a new initiative whereby the Saudi Companies of Pilgrims’ Establishments, known as mu’assasa under the supervision of MoHU will assume responsibility for the feeding and accommodation of pilgrims in Makkah and Madinah, similar to the current practices in Masha’ir.”
Elegushi during the meeting reiterated NAHCON’s commitment to align with Saudi Arabia’s Hajj calendar and emphasized the need for cooperation among all stakeholders.
He praised the state executive secretaries for their proactive approach in announcing the minimum Hajj deposits and encouraged them to maintain this momentum.
He also provided an update on the refunds from the 2024 Hajj, which are still awaiting resolution from the Saudi authorities.
In response, Malam Idris Almakura, the Chairman of the Forum of States (FoS) and Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Pilgrims’ Board, commended NAHCON for its efforts and urged the commission to sustain the tempo.
Almakura disclosed that the members had an emergency meeting in the FCT MPWB the previous night in connection to the current meeting.
The communiqué was read by the Director, FCT MPWB, Malam Abubakar Evuti, calling on NAHCON to address certain issues of concern to the members including the Hajj Savings Scheme, policy on National Medical Team, matters of pilgrims’ refunds, among others.