Kano State Government have expressed dissatisfaction over the treatment of pilgrims during the ongoing Hajj exercise, insisting that the poor services rendered have cast doubt on confidence in the management of the pilgrimage.
Besides concern over poor meals, the state officials lamented failure of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to fulfill its promises regarding the issuance of Nusuk cards, flight rescheduling, and the early conveyance of Kano pilgrims from Madinah to Makkah.
Speaking while receiving NAHCON officials in Mina, the Emir of Karaye, His Royal Highness Alhaji Mohammad Mahraz, raised particular concern over the flight rescheduling, which resulted in the late airlift of Kano pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.
The traditional ruler, who also doubles as the Deputy Amirul Hajj, regretted the hurried movement of pilgrims to Makkah despite the late arrival of Kano contingents in Madinah, a situation that left hundreds of pilgrims with barely two days to perform significant spiritual activities in the holy city.
The monarch urged NAHCON to ensure proper planning of return flights in order to reduce the number of days pilgrims spend in Saudi Arabia after Hajj and preserve the country’s reputation.
Director-General, Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim Matawalle, said several pilgrims were unable to secure their Nusuk cards in Madinah contrary to assurances earlier given by the commission.
Matawalle narrated how Kano contingents were compelled to spend an extra four hours inside buses after arriving in Makkah while waiting for permission from service providers to alight.
“The experiences were unpleasant because what we were offered fell short of expectations. NAHCON told us that Nusuk cards would be issued immediately upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, but that did not happen.
“Instead, the cards were distributed when pilgrims were about to depart Madinah, yet some people still did not receive theirs. Up till this moment, many are yet to get their Nusuk cards. I have personally identified more than 30 people without the cards.
“Before submitting a formal complaint, I want NAHCON to urgently take action to correct these anomalies. Situations like this create a lack of confidence if they continue to happen,” Matawalle said.
Similarly, Chairman of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Yusuf Lawan, also decried the poor quality of meals provided by the Saudi service company.
“Just like last year, our major complaint remains the poor provision of food to pilgrims, and we expected that this issue would have been corrected by now.
“In Arafat, food was served only once, while snacks were later provided. We are beginning to wonder whether there is something we have not paid for,” Lawan said.
Responding, NAHCON Commissioner in charge of Planning, Research, Information and Library Services, Professor Abubakar Abubakar Yagawal, acknowledged the complaints and pledged to present them before the management for necessary action.
The concerns came less than 24 hours after the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) rejected supplies from one of the Saudi service providers over failure to meet health and safety standards.
