The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has launched an investigation into catering companies after rejecting meals prepared for Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia over safety concerns.
NAHCON said the affected meals were discovered to have fallen short of the food handling and packaging requirements approved by Saudi health authorities supervising this year’s Hajj operations.
According to the commission, the incident occurred during dinner service on Tuesday, prompting officials to stop the distribution of the meals to protect pilgrims from possible health risks amid the harsh weather conditions in the Kingdom.
To ease the situation, the catering support team immediately provided lighter alternative meals to pilgrims, while NAHCON officials visited various camps to explain the development and reassure those affected.
The Chairman of the commission, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, subsequently directed the security committee to identify all contractors connected to the rejected meals and investigate possible negligence or breach of agreement.
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The commission also disclosed that some tour operators are being investigated over allegations of exceeding their approved pilgrim quotas and taking advantage of intending pilgrims during the ongoing exercise.
NAHCON warned that any company or operator found responsible for misconduct would face disciplinary measures, including the possible cancellation of operational licences.
The commission added that plans were already underway to compensate pilgrims affected by the disruption through refunds and other necessary support.
NAHCON reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining acceptable welfare standards for Nigerian pilgrims throughout the Hajj exercise and thanked pilgrims for their patience and cooperation.