Hajj 2024: S’West Displeased With Feeding, Accommodation Arrangement – Lagos Amirul

Amid the calls for a probe into the N90 billion Federal Government subvention for the just-concluded Hajj 2024 pilgrimage, the Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode has expressed displeasure with the Southwest at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), over feeding, accommodation and other arrangements handled by the body.

Speaking from Alsaad Flower Hotel 2, Misfalah, Makkah, Saudi Arabia, the leader of the Lagos contingent to the annual Islamic ritual urged the leadership of NAHCON, headed by Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi, its Chairman/CEO, to summon a meeting with stakeholders to discuss the challenges faced during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage and find a lasting solution.

The Commissioner explained that most of the challenges encountered during this year’s Hajj were from the inadequacies of the Hajj Commission, stressing that the South West region is not pleased with the food served in Mina as well as the accommodation provided in Makkah.

He said, “We had a lot of challenges and most of them are from NAHCON.

“The caterer selected to provide meals for the State’s pilgrims was using his own discretion to select a menu that was not favourable to the people of the South West.

He said “The pilgrims almost protested at Mina and many of them rejected the meals served and chose to go and buy food from vendors.

“Even the accommodation provided for Lagos pilgrims in Makkah was not up to standard.” He lamented.

Layode said despite these challenges, he disagrees with the call for the scrapping of NAHCON, saying, “You can’t throw away the baby with the bath water”

Amirul Hajj maintained that NAHCON had agreed that there were challenges this year, as he called on stakeholders to address them ahead of the 2025 Hajj.

He expressed his appreciation to Lagos State pilgrims for their patience and endurance, as he also appreciated the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr Kadri Obafemi Hamzat for their unflinching support, especially in the area of providing the shortfall of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to the pilgrims and also offsetting the cost of Rams, amongst other kind gestures.

No fewer than 926 out of a total number of 1,869 pilgrims that participated in the 2024 Hajj from the State have so far been airlifted back home.