A prominent caterer involved in the 2024 Hajj operations has confirmed that the N90 billion federal government grant for pilgrims was successfully distributed, despite its late release.
Alhaja Kadijat Jakande, a leading caterer contracted by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), commented on the recently concluded Muslim pilgrimage.
“Regarding the N90 billion federal government grant, even though it was released late, it was shared to pilgrims,” Jakande stated.
This revelation comes amid discussions about managing funds for the annual pilgrimage.
The caterer’s statement addressed concerns about the timely distribution of financial support to pilgrims, highlighting the efforts to ensure that pilgrims received the allocated funds despite logistical challenges.
Jakande took the opportunity to praise the NAHCON leadership, including the chairman Alhaji Jalal Arabi and chief operating officer Alhaji Olanrewaju Elegushi, for their role in organising a successful 2024 Hajj.
He emphasised that NAHCON’s responsibilities primarily focused on operations in Medina and Mina-Arafat, where she claims they “did wonderfully well.”
The caterer also addressed recent criticisms of NAHCON’s operations by a North Central governor, suggesting that such criticisms stemmed from “incomplete information and sentiment.”
Jakande argued that a better understanding of the division of responsibilities between NAHCON and state pilgrim boards would have prevented such criticisms.
