Reports revealed that the Saudi Arabian Government may not be happy with Nigeria over alleged widespread sale of free dates donated to Nigerian Pilgrims by the Kingdom. It was gathered that the Saudi authorities had distributed 200 tons of dates to Nigerian Muslims who are currently observing the Ramadan Fasting.
The Saudi Government is however disappointed that the free dates are currently being sold at open markets in Abuja and Nasarawa state.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has condemned the development, explaining that it has no control over such consignment after being delivered to the final destinations.
In a statement issued by Clement Adaku, the Ministry's spokesperson, the Federal Government said the "dates were warehoused by Saudi embassy in Abuja and distributed in the presence of the Charge d’Affaires, Dr Yahya Ali Mughram and the Ministry’s director of Middle East and Gulf in conjunction with the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons."
He further stated that “once the dates were delivered to their final destinations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs became devoid of any subsequent responsibility. It is therefore disappointing to learn that some of the consignment are being sold for profit”.
