The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has approved the selection of a new service provider, Mashariqi al-Dhahabia Company, for Hajj 2025.
The decision was reached on the sideline of the just concluded Global Hajj Conference and Exhibition held in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Leader of the Nigerian delegation, who is also the NAHCON Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Prof. Saleh Abdullahi, signed an agreement with the new company.
Mashariqi al-Dhahabia will be charged with overseeing and organising local transportation, securing pilgrims’ camps in masha’ir (core Hajj rites), providing technological and manual security, catering services, sanitation, among others.
Muslim News gathered that the signing of contract with Mashariqi al-Dhahabia brings an end to NAHCON’s relationship with Ithraa Al Khair Company, which has always served as the official service provider for Nigeria pilgrims.
Recall that Nigerian pilgrims have always complained of services rendered by Ithraa Al Khair Company at masha’ir – during the five days they will spend at sacred places like Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat, when the Hajj rites commence.
Few weeks ago, the Saudi company refunded N4.4 billion to Nigerian pilgrims over poor service delivery during the 2023 Hajj. There was also such complaints at the 2024 Hajj led by the immediate former NAHCON chairman.
To ensure good service delivery for the Nigerian pilgrims in this year’s Hajj, the new NAHCON chairman led the Nigerian delegation during the Hajj Expo to visit different service provider companies in Jeddah and Makkah, assessing their experience and competence in catering management, accommodation management and transportation management.
“Questions were asked on standards, capacity, manpower, especially under catering, how they plan to meet the culinary tastes of Nigerians taking into cognisance that the country is culturally diverse, how they plan to meet the needs of Nigerian pilgrims, especially since majority may be experiencing an international trip for the first time,” Fatima Sanda Usara, Assistant Director, Information and Publications, NAHCON, said in a statement obtained by Muslim News.
The Commission later announced that it achieved a milestone by signing a contract with a new service provider, Mashariqi al-Dhahabia Company, on January 17.
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