The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, has denied serving poor meal to Nigerian pilgrims in Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
A Facebook user, bearing Babagana Digima as username, on Tuesday posted on his timeline how the pilgrims had been served with poor breakfast.
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He posted a picture of two plastic containers; one containing akra while the other contains pap and tagged the Facebook page of NAHCON and its staff, Fatima Mustapha, a Deputy Director at the commission.
The post says “After paying N8m for Hajj see the breakfast that our pilgrims are being given! Nahcon Nigeria Fatima Mustapha. This what was given today 28th May 2024,”
The user, believed to be a pilgrim from Federal Capital Territory, FCT, also alleged that the intending pilgrims have faced shortage of cash to buy food, just as according to him, they are unable to access their remaining $300 Basic Travel Allowance, BTA, promised to be given to them while in Saudi
“In fact some pilgrims have already started begging to get money to buy food because even their remaining $300 that was promised to be paid to them in Saudi (out of $500) is not forthcoming from the authorities!,” he alleged.
But in a swift reaction, Mrs Mustapha posted a picture of a bottle water, two loaves of bread, two plastic containers- one with akra, the other with pap to counter the intending pilgrims’ claim.
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No official statement from NAHCON, however, Mrs Mustapha described the picture posted by the pilgrim as “edited version”.
She said the one she posted represents the actual breakfast served to the pilgrims.
“Assalama Alaikum. This is the Actual Breakfast Served FCT PILGRIMS. Not The Edited Version Making The Rounds On Social Media,” she posted.