Date: 2016-08-26

As pilgrims continue to move enmass from Madinah to Makkah in preparation for the main hajj rites exercise, Nigerian pilgrims have appealed to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for the replication of Madinah's hospitality and care they enjoyed throughout their stay in Makkah.

Though the State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare boards, agencies and commissions are responsible for the feeding and accommodation of their pilgrims in Makkah, the pilgrims are asking the NAHCON to help in replicating the excellent services they enjoyed in Madinah to them in Makkah, having noticed changes in terms of quality in the accommodation and feeding compared to what they enjoyed in Madinah.

According to the coordinator of NAHCON hajj operations in Makkah, Alhaji Suleiman Usman, the first set of Nigerian pilgrims who arrived Makkah from Madinah were not happy with their accommodation and feeding arrangement in Makkah compare d to what they enjoyed Madinah.

"They want the same services they enjoyed in Madinah, here in Makkah," Usman said.

He said the pilgrims were overwhelmingly shocked with what they experienced in Madinah especially when compared to what they used to hear from predecessors about their feeding and accommodation, saying some pilgrims confessed that they have not had such outings and comfort in lives.

"Large number of pilgrims from Zamfara and Kwara states said their accommodations were beyond their imagination. They said the meals were excellent in terms of taste, quality and variety. So we are working on a template that will be used to pool the pilgrims' opinions and suggestions for enhancement of future operations," he said.

He assured pilgrims of better welfare in Makkah, saying only challenge was the complained by some pilgrims about the standard and comfortability of buses that conveyed them from Madinah to Makkah.

He therefore, urged pilgrims and their officials to take the video shot and photographs of the plate numbers and the name of the transport company as evidences. He also gave the number 056704192 for any pilgrim or official with complaints on Makkah operations.