Free Saudi dates sold at open market

About 200 tons of dates donated by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria are being sold in the open market in Abuja,

gathered. The dates were donated through the office of the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Hajiya Khadijah Bukar Abba Ibrahim.

The Charge d’Affaires of Saudi Embassy in Abuja, Dr Yahya Ali Mughram made the presentation of the gift to the minister on June 5, 2017.

But the dates, which were supposed to be distributed to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and Muslims observing the ongoing Ramadan fasting, were being sold in the markets in the nation’s capital.

A buyer, who does not want to be named told Daily Trust that he bought a pack of the dates for N2,500 from a corner shop at the National Mosque, Abuja.

Daily Trust could not get reaction from the minister’s office, but a source from the ministry, who preferred not to be named, confirmed that the dates were being sold in the market but said the ministry had no hand in the distribution.

He said the dates were warehoused by the Saudi embassy and distributed to IDPs camps and some mosques in and outside Abuja.

A list was drawn by National Commission for Refugees and IDPs and that was used for distribution, he said.

The gift was received ‘symbolically’ by the minister on behalf of Nigerian government, he added.

Meanwhile, the Saudi embassy has cautioned Nigerians not to sell or buy dates “packaged and circulated as gifts” from anyone.

The embassy gave the caution in a statement issued by the Charge d’Affaires, Dr Yahya Ali Mughram.

Daily Trust