As part of its preparations for next year’s Hajj exercise, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has released the lists of service providers that will provide accommodation and catering services for Nigerian pilgrims both in Madinah and Makkah.
The Nigerian Hajj body released the list of qualified service providers, selected from companies that applied to provide services for Nigerian pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the spiritual exercise, on its website.
According to the lists, of the applicant companies for accommodation services, 17 companies are listed for the service in Makkah, while six qualified to provide accommodation for Nigerians in Madinah.
Listed among the 17 accommodation providers in Makkah are: Al-Rouyal al-Qadema; Manazil Commercial Group; Zainul Abidin Company; Al Hijaziyah Swords Company Ltd; Diary Hotel Company and Rowaa Golden Company, among others.
The six accommodation providers approved by the commission for Madinah are: Ahmad Muhammad Al Zuhuri Company; Al Andalus Hotel Management Madina; Eastern Gulf Agency Madina; Al-Rouya Al Qadema Company; Amgad al-Salam Madinah and Diyar al-Bait for Hajj and Umrah.
A total of 62 service providers, comprising 48 for Makkah and 14 for Madinah, qualified to provide catering services for the pilgrims while in the Holy Land for Hajj in 2024.
Among those listed for Makkah are Al Shomokh Kitchens; Zaad al Wofood Company; Global Chef for Catering Services; Rowad al Zad and Mona Catering Services.
Mawasim al Khairat for Trading; Safeat al Wasam; Mazq Azwaj; Qdori Kitchen Company; Haideri Catering Services and Africana Home Restaurant are listed catering services in Madinah.
NAHCON Acting Chairman/CEO, Malam Ahmad Jalal Arabi had appealed to the Saudi Arabian service provider, the Mutawiff of African Non-Arab Countries to significantly enhance services to be provided for Nigerian pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj, particularly at Mina and Arafat.
Arabi made the appeal at a recent meeting with the chairman of the company, Dr Ahmad Abbas Sindi at the Hajj House in Abuja, adding that solutions must be found to issues encountered during the 2023 Hajj, including feeding, transportation and others.
Sindi, however, assured of a better experience for Nigerian pilgrims during next year’s Hajj exercise, adding that efforts have been made to ensure improved service delivery for the pilgrims.
While promising a remarkable Hajj for 2024, Sindi informed that a new policy which would ensure that Nigerian pilgrims would be served promptly with Nigerian meals would be implemented next year.
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