The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has firmly refuted recent claims made on social media regarding the quality of breakfast provided to Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. The allegations, posted on Facebook by Babagana Digima, suggested that pilgrims, who paid N8 million as Hajj fare, were being served substandard meals. NAHCON has denounced these claims as baseless and misleading.
In an official statement, NAHCON highlighted that ethical journalism standards were not upheld in this instance, as the claims originated from an unverified social media post. Moreover, the author of the post, Babagana Digima, is reportedly based in Nigeria and not present in Saudi Arabia, raising further questions about the authenticity of his account.
Upon discovering the post, NAHCON immediately contacted Digima both privately and publicly to address the inaccuracies. Despite this, the misleading post remained online. Multiple pilgrims currently in Makkah responded to the post with photographic evidence, disproving the allegations and showcasing the actual meals provided. NAHCON staff also provided detailed descriptions of the meals, confirming that the image used in the Facebook post was doctored.
Unfortunately, Sahara Reporters picked up the false narrative from Facebook and published it without verification, prioritizing sensationalism over accuracy. The fabricated story included a manipulated picture of the breakfast served to pilgrims at Nama Al-Asriya Hotel in Makkah.
NAHCON urges the public to disregard the false information circulating about the FCT pilgrims’ breakfast. The Commission reiterates that the story is not only inaccurate but also appears to be driven by malicious intent.
In a related matter, NAHCON addressed concerns regarding the issuance of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to pilgrims. According to the Commission, each pilgrim is entitled to receive $500, calculated at an exchange rate of N1,252 to a dollar as of April 24, 2024, amounting to N626,000. However, reports have surfaced indicating that banks are currently issuing BTA at the prevailing market rate, resulting in a shortfall. NAHCON reassures pilgrims that their interests are a priority and that the issue is being addressed to ensure compliance with the agreed exchange rate.
Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director of Public Affairs at NAHCON, emphasized the Commission’s commitment to resolving this matter promptly and ensuring that the pilgrims’ entitlements are fully honored.
