By Sarat Ibrahim
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has cautioned caterers engaged to feed Nigerian pilgrims in Madina against poor service delivery
The commission’s Head of Madina Feeding Committee, Mrs Bilqis Awah, issued the warning while answering questions from newsmen shortly after inspecting the kitchen of one of the caterers,in Madina, Kingdom of Saudi.
Mrs Awah, who vowed that the commission would not allow any caterer to shortchange Nigerian pilgrims, enjoined the caterers to adhere strictly to the agreed time table and menu.
She revealed that the committee agreed with the caterers to make food available to pilgrims for breakfast latest by 6a.m. and 5p.m. to 6p.m for dinner.
She said the committee had disqualified one of the caterers that failed to honour the agreement with the commission and declared a free food of another erring caterer.
“We have deployed our members to monitor caterers in each hotel that Nigerian pilgrims are accommodated.
“One of the responsibilities of the committee is supervision, and once we receive the food, it is handed over to the each State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards for onward distribution to the pilgrims.”
According to her, the committee before handing over the food to state officials make sure that the quantity and quality is ok.
She, however, said that if state officials are not satisfied with the food, then the committee would take immediate action.
“From the beginning, we started very well with the caterers. Though we have an approval of 10 caterers, but we cannot ask them to start delivering food to pilgrims all at the same time.
“On our arrival, we held a meeting with all caterers and thereafter inspected their kitchens and we became convinced that they were capable of handling the assignment.
“Out of 10, we discovered that six were capable to start immediately and they all started very well, but unfortunately two days later, some of them started disappointing us by bringing the food late which actually we didn’t take it likely with them.
“We sanctioned them by stopping them from supplying food because she delivered food to pilgrims around 11:30p.m which is abnormal and we declared her food free.”
Awah said that the committee immediately reported to the commission’s Madina Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Mahmud, who surmmoned a meeting with all the caterers and warned them against such unacceptable attitude.
She reiterated the commitment of the committee to continue to do everything possible within the ambit of the law to ensure that Nigeria pilgrims get value for their money.
Responding, one of the caterers, Bilkisu Suleiman, the Managing Director, Zahra Mashair Kitchen, Saudi Arabia, revealed that the company was engaged by NAHCON to feed 10,000 pilgrims of Zamfara, Sokoto, Jigawa and Lagos States.
She said that the company had put all necessary measures in place to deliver an effective service to the pilgrims.
“We are determined to ensure timely delivery of food to pilgrims in order to meet up with the expectations of both NAHCON and the pilgrims.”