Osun State pilgrims who traveled to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj this year complained about the poor food the State Pilgrims Welfare Board was providing.
The pilgrims can be seen throwing away food packages that were provided to them in front of room 211, which is rumored to be occupied by the state Amirul Hajj, Dr. Maroof Ishola, in video footage of the protest uploaded by reporters on a YouTube channel on Sunday.
Since they arrived in Saudi Arabia, sources claim that pilgrims have been complaining about poor meals that have been provided for them by the caterers contracted by the State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Additionally, it was determined that the rising concern of the pilgrims' welfare grew worse when some of the visitors to the Lagos camp noticed the campers were receiving better meals.
The protest was started inside the premises of the hotel where the pilgrims were staying in Medina when the caterers allegedly brought food that the pilgrims felt was substandard on Saturday evening.
In a protest video, one of the pilgrims is heard saying,
“We are rejecting food given to us. We are at the door of Osun Amirul Hajj. We are rejecting the food given to us. The food is poor, we can’t continue to eat such, after paying a huge amount for this pilgrimage.”
According to reports, the situation was eventually brought under control after Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, intervened and begged the protesters to end their protest.
The board's management has claimed that it was aware of the protest and that it has met with the caterers and pilgrims' representatives to discuss the issue.
Bolaji Sanni, the Board's administrative secretary, signed a statement that was obtained in Osogbo on Sunday. It continued,
“At the meeting were the State Government officials, some representatives of the pilgrims, as well as the Head of Catering team for the service provider.
“The meeting discussed the lack of adequate local Yoruba delicacies in the food menu of the service provider and the need for its inclusion in subsequent meals. The meeting also discussed the possibility of changing the caterers if no improvement is noticed.
