This hardworking, young, vibrant, kind and humble Nigerian has lived in Makkah for over thirty (30) years. He married a Saudi woman and brought all his Nigerian family to Saudi Arabia to live with him, including his mother.
He has been responsible in the past four to five years for providing accommodation for Lagos pilgrims in Makkah, usually a four-star hotel.
This year, the Amirul Haj gave him additional responsibility to provide food for the two thousand (2000) pilgrims from Lagos and he delivered excellently. The man demonstrated commitment to serve the pilgrims with his whole heart.
For this reason, Oriwu Sun Publisher, who was equally impressed with the man’s performance, traced him to his office to speak on his success story in Makkah and his challenges, especially as Saudis are usually unfriendly to Nigerian pilgrims.
He has a building in Makkah and as we conducted the interview, at a stage, the man broke down in tears before his mother as he emotionally recalled how his mother suffered untold hardship for their sake. He believes that he cannot fully repay his mother for her sacrifice on him.
He spoke on diverse issues from his job to welfare of pilgrims to the Haj, his experiences in Saudi Arabia, etc.
They make a fascinating reading as captured in this story below with captivating photos.
Q: What is your name Sir?
A: My name is Abdul Waheed Abdul Raheem (Alias Alarafa)
Q: We noticed that this year, you provided food for us in Muna, and for the first year in the history of the Haj, the food was so delicious that everyone keeps talking is talking about it left right and center. What is the reason behind it. Are you a cook?
A: I am a house provider, hotel provider and CEO of Kausa Abdulasam. I heard in 2014 that the kind of food, which the Saudi government provided for Lagos pilgrims, were not good at all. I wrote to the former Commissioner for Home Affairs seeking to handle the task of providing meals for the Lagos pilgrims in Haj and he accepted it. I cooked food during the Haj in Makkah, but when we entered Muna during the 2015 Haj, they gave the job of providing meals to the same Arab man and he didn’t perform well. Most of the food he served were not good. When the new commissioner came in, I again wrote a letter to him and he also accepted that I should handle the job. He equally tried all his best to make sure that the food stuffs were directly from Nigeria and he handed them to me to handle the cooking. I have been a caterer since my days in Nigeria. I have at least three (3) to four (4) caterers who assist me, and all the food stuffs I used were brought in from Nigeria and not from Saudi Arabia. I only got few things from Saudi Arabia, like water and juice; the rest were from Nigeria, like Semo, Amala, Yam and Poundoyam, fish, ground pepper and crayfish. That is why the food was so good.
Q: It is one thing to bring those foodstuff in; another is to cook the food well. Who are those responsible for the cooking?
A: I brought the caterers from Nigeria. I spent a lot of money on them, not because of the profit, but I want my people to be fed their indigenous food, and also because the stress of getting food in Muna and Arafat is much. If they don’t eat good food, it could lead to something disastrous. That is why some of the people easily die when they fall sick. But this year, so far, we haven’t got any report that a pilgrim is dying or being taken to the hospital in Muna and Arafat. We thank our Honourable Commissioner, Honourable Iyepe and His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for their support. More so, the kind of tent we use now in Arafa is good. There is no state that has ever used that kind of tent before. I am the one responsible for the tent and food. I was given the contract in Makkah.
Q: Why didn’t you cook for us in Muna?
A: There were lots of challenges over there because the caterers I hired in Dubai last year went behind me to accuse me of cheating them.
Q: I keep on wondering how you were able to cook for more than two thousand people in Muna? How did you do that?
A: Our caterers were divided into groups – ABC. We had a conference in Nigeria where we resolved not to give the job to someone that does not know anything about Haj. Some people have been to Haj for more than six (6) – seven (7) years. They have faced the crowd; they have sold food in Muna and Arafat and they know much about the place. I went from State to State, from Local Government to Local government to get the caterers. I spent a lot of money to organise conferences in Lagos State, Oyo State, Ogun State and Osun State for caterers and it was from that I picked those that are working for me here in Haj.
Q: We noticed that you don’t cater for Lagos State alone; you also cater for other States. What is your staff strength and how do you cope?
A: The work has been streamlined and that’s why we have groupings. Group A will take care of all the people under it while group B will also take care of those under it. We have already documented the process of sharing the food. Apart from that, I have been performing Haj for more than twenty one (21) years now; so I know what would benefit our people.
I also know Muna and Arafa very well. In fact, the map is in my brain. Group A to C that would be cooking for Oyo State is different from those that would handle the cooking for Lagos State because Lagos State cooking is different. Moreso, the people from Lagos have to smell Lagos in the cooking. Those from Oyo must also smell Oyo in their food and same goes to other states. So, if you give the contract only to Oyo people, the Lagos people might not like it.
Q: How long do you stay in Makkah and Nigeria; do you shuffle?
A: I shuffle it. Sometimes, I spend one (1) month in Nigeria and three weeks in Saudi Arabia. I come to Nigeria at least every month.
Q: What is your schedule like during Umrah and Haj for Lagos and other States? Do you render carrier service for them?
A: I am not a carrier but I render service for them
Q: Which State?
A: Osun State, Oyo State and Ondo State
Q: Have you been able to cope?
A: Yes, I have been able to cope with them.
Q: Let’s come back to the issue of accommodation, last year, you gave us an excellent accommodation; likewise this year. Why is it not possible for us to retain that house?
A: Due to the change in government in Lagos State, we wrote a letter to the government to bid for the contract, but the letter was not responded to on time. However, the Commissioner tried his best to transfer the money to Saudi Arabia through the bank.
Q: Was it on time or late?
A: It was on time. I was in Germany when the Commissioner assumed office. He called me to come to Lagos and I took the next available flight the second day. He asked me to sign an agreement that the accommodation that I would provide for the pilgrims would be the same as last year or better than that. We formalised everything and we went to the bank, but before the approval could come from the Central Bank, it was already late, because it was over four (4) to five (5) month for the accommodation, and the commissioner could do anything except after Haj. It’s only the state that took care of its own pilgrims and our honourable Governor tried his best as well as the Commissioner. He called the Central Bank and he was told there was no approval yet.
Q: What kind of man is Abdul-Lateef and what is your relationship with him?
A: He is a merciful and a very straight forward person. If he promises to do something, he is going to do it. He is not God, but he tries his possible best for the people; even if it is not possible, he will still try to make it possible because he likes people more than himself. He works day and night; he hardly sleeps. At times, he sleeps in the car, and when I askedI ask him why, he said he was not here as the Amirul Haj to act like a big man, I have to satisfy the people. He 
did (wasi). He was also up and about throughout the Haj to ensure the good health of the pilgrims. That is the kind of a person he is.
Q: What do you do after Haj?
A: After Haj, we organise conferences, we are starting the conference experience and what we lack from the people.
Q: Where do you do the conference?
A: We do most of it in Nigeria, at least Seventy percent (70%). The rest are done in London, Europe and South Africa, because we have some pilgrims over there, likewise in Ghana and Coutonu.
Q: How do you deal with the volume of money all over the state? How do you check that you are not being duped, or do you have an accountant that verifies your money or balance sheet to know what is going on?
A: We have someone that handles those things.
Q: How do you relax? When you are not doing anything, how do you enjoy yourself?
A: When I’m not busy, I like to enjoy myself with my family because I love my kids.
Q: How many do you have?
A: I have five (5) in Nigeria and two (2) in Saudi Arabia, I married a Saudi Arabian woman, my second wife. It took us three (3) years to settle with Saudi government before they allowed us marry each other.
Q: What is your staff strength?
A: I have twenty (20) staff in Saudi Arabia and five (5) in Nigeria. My office in Nigeria is Alkausarat Limited, situated within the new complex at Airforce Base along Local Airport Road.
Q: We noticed that you have received so many awards; who and who presented them to you?
A: The award comes from Lagos State, some from my colleagues; some from the Landlord, also from the Muslim societies in Nigeria.
Q: How do you feel about your achievements so far?
A: I am happy because I am serving my Nation. I started this work due because I don’t like the way the Saudi Arabians treat my people and I knew I could do it and even better than them. So, when I started it, people were happy about it.
Q: We noticed that when we came in, your staff were very respectful to your mum. How will you describe your mum?
A: After God, it’s my mum. Whatever she says, I do. I love my mum; she has tried a lot for me.
Q: Is she living here or Lagos?
A: She stays in Lagos, but I bring her along with me anytime I’m coming here. I have been here for the past three (3) month and I brought her with me because I love her.
Q: How many are you and your siblings?
A: We are six
Q: Are you the only one here?
A: Yes, I’m the only one and I am the first born.
Q: How old is she?
A: She is going to be sixty five (65) soon.
Q: How old are you?
A: Am forty eight (48). I remember when we used to hawk at Mushin Ojuwoye market; my mother will collect my own goods and hawk for me, and we when we get home, she wouldl cook anything available for us to eat.
Q: What year did you come to Saudi?
A: 1994; I was born and brought up in Lagos.
Q: How did you learn the language (Arabic)
A: When I finished my Primary School, I went to Arabic School in Agege. I had learnt Arabic before I left Nigeria. When I came here, I did not geain admission immediately. I was selling Zam-zam water; photographer and taxi driver. During the time I was a taxi driver, I met with Nigerian officers that came here (Saudi Arabia) to rent house for people (pilgrims). So, I tried it with some of my friends and fortunately, it was successful.
Q: What area do you want the government to work on to make the job easier for Lagos pilgrims?
A: I think ii is the area of money; the approval for the prompt payment of money should be signed as at when due. So also is the Central bank issue; because of dollar issue, the money should be ready at least a month or two after Haj to get our house ready before the next one.
Q: Who are those you will not forget in your life aside your mother?
A: Abdul Quadri. He is from Kwara state, and he graduated in Saudi Arabia University. Immediately I got to Saudi Arabia, he was the one that took care of me and he still does that up till now; he has been guiding me.
Q: Is he still in Saudi Arabia?
A: Yes; he shuffles between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia. He is an Islamic scholar, and my guardian up till today.
Q: What advice do you have for Lagos pilgrims?
A: My advice for them is to always adopt the virtue of patience. Insha Allah, we will continue to do our possible best. By next year, we will do more than this; we will do our best for the food and accommodation.
Q: Is it true that at times, when Lagos pilgrims are given accommodation, they damage or misuse the property and the following year, they are not allowed to take the place again?
A: Last year, in the toilet, something got spoilt, but it was not deliberate, it’s because some people have not used the type of things they use there. The owner of the house complained by I, myself covered the area and the honourable commissioner.
Q: Is that the reason they didn’t give us the same place this year?
A: No, it’s because of the late payment.
Q: What about the house we are now?
A: The house we are now is just like my house; I leased the house for five (5) years.
Q: What about the one we used during the time of Oyinlomo?
A: That one is now an old house. By that time, it was a new house, and the former Commissioner upgraded it to a 3-star hotel. Now, the new Commissioner has taken a 5- star hotel, which would also be upgraded next year. He told me that I have to look for a house that is not more than 200m away from Haram. By next year, that would be number one on our agenda.