2025 Hajj: Nigerian Pilgrims To Receive Quality Meals, Says NAHCON

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing Nigerian pilgrims participating in the 2025 Hajj with high-quality, nutritious, and culturally authentic meals. This assurance comes as part of a robust monitoring and quality control system instituted for catering facilities in Madinah.

Alhaji Abdullahi Kabir, head of the commission’s Medina Feeding Committee, made this known during an inspection of seven catering outfits contracted to serve over 17,000 Nigerian pilgrims already in the holy city. The announcement was conveyed through a statement released Friday by the committee’s Public Affairs Officer, Malam Ahmad Muazu.

Kabir stated, “As more than 17,000 Nigerian pilgrims already arrive in Medina for the 2025 Hajj, NAHCON has implemented a rigorous oversight system to ensure consistent quality in its extensive feeding operation.”

The inspection process, he explained, spans several stages of quality control, starting with the verification of food ingredients to confirm they meet strict nutritional standards. “They scrutinize expiration dates on every packaged item, from spices to preserved goods, enforcing a zero-tolerance policy for expired products,” he said.

To maintain nutritional value and authenticity, NAHCON has enforced the use of only natural ingredients, strictly banning the use of artificial flavor enhancers and preservatives.

“Additionally, inspectors verify strict adherence to NAHCON’s mandate for natural ingredients, prohibiting artificial flavor enhancers and preservatives that could compromise the nutritional value or authenticity of traditional Nigerian dishes,” Kabir emphasized.

The seven catering companies inspected—Africana Home Restaurant, Amjad Alghraa, Al-Andalus, Mawasim Khairat, Na’a Azad, Zowar Muktara, and Kabala Catering—were evaluated on criteria including hygiene, equipment functionality, and the efficiency of their kitchen staff.

Crucially, Kabir noted that Nigerian chefs and support staff were employed in these kitchens, an approach that ensures not only the cultural relevance of the meals but also promotes job creation.

“The continuous monitoring of every aspect of the feeding programme demonstrates an institutional commitment that extends beyond mere sustenance to encompass dignity and cultural respect,” he added.

Addressing food service providers during a separate meeting, the Madinah Coordinator, Alhaji Abdulkadir Oloyin, issued a firm warning regarding food packaging standards.

“The use of substandard containers is categorically unacceptable,” Oloyin declared, instructing all vendors to adopt uniform, high-quality packaging to ensure food safety and enhance the pilgrims’ overall dining experience.

According to PUNCH Online, the 2025 Hajj airlift operation began on May 9, 2025, in a joint initiative by NAHCON and various State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards. As of Friday, May 16, over 17,000 pilgrims have been successfully transported to Madinah.

Some of these early arrivals have already made their way from Madinah to Mecca, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage journey for Nigerian Muslims. The airlift operation continues to gain momentum, with several outbound flights facilitating the spiritual journey to the holy land.