Reactions as Saudi-Donated Dates Fruits Sold at High Prices in Nigerian Markets

There is a buzz on social media after Dates donated by the Saudi Arabian government for free distribution during Ramadan allegedly entered markets in Kano and other northern Nigerian cities, where they are being sold at high prices.

Social media users raised alarm after spotting the dates officially donated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, being sold instead of being given to the needy as intended.

Yasir Ramadan Gwale, a Facebook user, shared an image of the donated dates with the inscription that they were “not for sale.”

He wrote: “Alhamdulillah. The dates that the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, gave to Nigeria have now arrived. As written on the leather bag, the dates are not for sale. Anyone who sees them being sold in a shop or market should report them to the nearest police station. Anyone who has not received the dates and is patient will receive a message, God willing.”

Despite the clear directive, other Nigerians quickly pointed out that the donated dates were being sold in markets across the region.

Responding to Yasir’s post, another user, Ridwan Mustapha, boldly admitted to selling the dates in his shop in Kano, stating: “If you come to my shop now at Kurmi Market, Kano, you’ll find it at an expensive price. We sell it for 8,000. Buy it or leave it. May Allah reward Saudi Arabia and punish the oppressors of Nigeria.”

His claim was corroborated by other Nigerians on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter), who narrated their experiences of seeing or being offered the donated dates for sale.

Shamsudeen Hassan wrote: “Yesterday, they brought this date fruit for me to buy for N15,000. It is being sold around the city. But I feel like it was sent to us by Saudi Arabia inside this month!”

Shamsudeen further elaborated on the growing trend: “This is a very clear matter regarding the date issue! People have been sending me screenshots of my post about seeing a certain man passing by while I was sitting at the market with dates, the type that was reportedly donated by Saudi Arabia for distribution.

“I called him and asked if he was selling them, and he said yes. I then asked how much, and he told me N15,000 naira. I paid, took a picture of it, and handed it back to him, wishing him success. People have been asking me where I got the dates to buy. I wasn’t given any; he was simply passing by with different kinds of dates, including that particular type. So I asked him about it, but I have no idea where he got them from—I don’t even know him!”

Another user, Hussaenerh, took to X to call on Saudi authorities to investigate the matter, sharing an alleged receipt showing the sale of the dates:

“Dear @CICSaudi, Below is a receipt showing the donated dates being sold. Many struggling Nigerians can’t afford ₦10,000 for dates, they’d rather buy food for their families. These were meant to be free. We hope this issue is addressed.”

Similarly, @AM_Saleeeem urged Saudi authorities to verify whether the dates had reached the intended beneficiaries:

“Dear @CICSaudi, the dates you sent to Nigeria are not distributed to the citizens. Someone alleged that they’re selling it to average Nigerians. Some people also brought it to him to buy. Please do your own homework and find out if it really reached your target.”

The development has sparked outrage, with many Nigerians condemning the alleged diversion of the charity meant for the poor.

The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Abuja recently held an official ceremony to distribute 100 tonnes (100,000kg) of dates to Nigeria as part of its annual humanitarian relief efforts.

The initiative, facilitated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), aims to support vulnerable families across Nigeria and strengthen the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.

During the ceremony, Faisal bin Ibrahim, the Ambassador of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques to Nigeria, reaffirmed the Kingdom’s commitment to humanitarian causes.

He expressed gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their unwavering support in providing aid to Muslims and underserved communities worldwide.

He emphasised that Saudi Arabia remains steadfast in its mission to foster Islamic solidarity and provide relief to those in need, particularly during significant religious periods such as Ramadan.

The controversy has led to calls for investigations into how the donated dates ended up in the market instead of being freely distributed. Nigerian authorities are yet to respond to the allegations