Over 52,000 Nigerian pilgrims were without shelter during the five-day stay at Mina during the Hajj rites, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said.
Zikrullahi Hassan, the chairman of the commission, disclosed this on Sunday in Makkah during a meeting between the commission and the Saudi Arabian company in charge of the tents and feeding at Mina.
A company, named Mutawwif, for Pilgrims from African and non-Arab countries, is in charge of feeding and tents.
Mr Hassan said 43,000 capacity tents were provided to cater for 95,000 pilgrims from Nigeria, leaving over 50,000 pilgrims without adequate shelter during their five-day stay in Mina.
Mr Hassan, who was visibly furious with the development, said Nigeria will consider the termination of the contract with Mutawwif and also demand a refund. The stay in Mina is a mandatory part of the hajj exercise. Pilgrims stayed at the camp from 26 to 30 June.
“Nigerian pilgrims were subjected to untold hardship and they are so disappointed in us even though we have repeatedly told them that the issues of tents and food are not in our hands, that we can only complain to the authorities,” he said.
Mr Hassan said the Saudis must hand off feeding of pilgrims because they lack the capacity.
Credit: premiumtimesng.com
