The Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have entered a renewed agreement for seamless hajj operations.
This formed the basis of discussion during the visit of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabbiah to Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar on Tuesday.
Tuggar noted that this was the first time ever a Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was visiting Nigeria, adding that his presence in Nigeria was a clear testament to the enduring bonds of friendship, brotherhood and cooperation that exist between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“President Tinubu holds the leadership and people of the Kingdom in high esteem and remains firmly committed to further strengthening the long-standing and cordial relations between our two fraternal nations.
“Nigeria and Saudi Arabia share a relationship deeply rooted in creed, mutual respect and strong people-to-people ties. Over the decades, this relationship has continued to flourish across political, economic, cultural and spiritual dimensions”, he said.
Tuggar informed that cooperation in the administration of Hajj and Umrah remained one of the most significant pillars of this partnership, reflecting their collective responsibility to safeguard the welfare, dignity and spiritual fulfillment of pilgrims.
“We wish to commend the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the remarkable reforms, innovation and investments undertaken to enhance the safety, efficiency and overall experience of pilgrims. These efforts are widely acknowledged and sincerely appreciated by the Government and people of Nigeria.
“Your Excellency, I am pleased to use this opportunity to inform the Honorable Minister that Nigeria has taken decisive, forward-looking steps to address the recurring consular challenges associated with recent difficulties in obtaining Ummrah visas”, he said.
He further disclosed that Nigeria’s Infrastructure, Concessioning and Regulatory Commission had approved an end-to-end strategic solution to the issue of consular overstays by some Nigerian citizens in the Kingdom.
“Nigeria remains fully committed to close collaboration with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and all relevant Saudi institutions. We are keen to continue engaging constructively to address operational matters, strengthen institutional coordination and explore new areas of cooperation that will further improve service delivery and pilgrimage management for Nigerian pilgrims”, the Minister said.
In response, the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabbiah stated that “the Ministry places great importance on enhancing institutional cooperation with Nigeria in the field of Hajj al-Umrah in a manner that contributes to providing a smooth and safe experience for Nigerian pilgrims and strengthens the coordination between the relevant authorities in both countries”.
Al-Rabbiah informed that the Kingdom welcomed approximately 89,000 Umrah performers from Nigeria in 2025, 92% of whom arrived on Umrah visas.
During the same year, the number of direct flights reached around 420 flights through King Abde’s International Airport in Jeddah. “We look forward to building on this positive development in a way that serves the guest of Allah from Nigeria.
“We also look forward to the continued joint coordination in preparation for the Hajj season of 1447 Hijri in a manner that enhances operational readiness, contributes to the smooth flow of procedures and ensures the safety of pilgrims and the quality of services provided to them, in addition to supporting awareness efforts, especially for the No Hajj Without a Permit campaign”, he said.
