The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria said in a statement issued today that the Saudi company licensed to provide meals for Nigerian pilgrims had supplied food that failed to meet the standards announced by Saudi health authorities, prompting Nigerian pilgrims to refuse the meals.

The statement added that the contracted company moved to provide light replacement meals after pilgrims rejected the main meals and following protests by NAHCON.

The offending company is listed among the firms officially approved by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and is one of the limited number authorised to operate during the Hajj season.

In addition to the poor quality of the food, the packaging, transportation and delivery methods were all found to be in breach of health regulations and standards.

Saudi companies, on the one hand, and the Saudi government, on the other, receive large sums of money through contracts related to catering, accommodation, transport and other Hajj services. Yet pilgrims from “poor” countries do not receive an acceptable standard of service, unlike pilgrims arriving from Western nations.