2025 Hajj: Nigerian Pilgrims To Be Served Local Cuisine As NAHCON Inspects Catering Services

All pilgrims traveling to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj will receive culturally appropriate and nutritious meals, thanks to a strict monitoring system implemented for catering services in Madinah.

This assurance was given by Alhaji Abdullahi Kabir, head of the Commission’s Medina Feeding Committee, during an inspection of the seven catering firms commissioned to serve over 17,000 Nigerian pilgrims already in the holy city.

According to a statement from the Committee’s Public Affairs Officer, Malam Ahmad Muazu, Kabir emphasized that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has taken proactive steps to ensure food quality, fulfilling its oversight responsibilities.

Kabir noted that comprehensive inspections are being conducted, starting with the evaluation of ingredients to ensure they meet high nutritional standards before cooking. He added that all food items, including spices and preserved goods, are thoroughly checked to ensure they are within expiry limits.

He stressed that NAHCON has zero tolerance for expired products and corruption and has insisted on the exclusive use of natural ingredients, banning artificial flavour enhancers and preservatives to maintain the nutritional integrity and authenticity of meals.

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