Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have taken steps to consolidate bilateral cooperation on Hajj and Umrah administration following a high-level engagement held on Tuesday in Abuja between officials of both countries.
The meeting featured a Saudi delegation led by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, making it the first official visit of a Saudi Hajj and Umrah minister to Nigeria. The visit was described as a significant diplomatic milestone in pilgrimage-related relations between both nations.
The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) , Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman while speaking at the meeting, said the engagement is a reflection of Saudi Arabia’s enduring partnership with Nigeria in the management of pilgrimage affairs. He praised the Kingdom’s investments in infrastructure, safety systems, and service reforms, noting that Saudi Vision 2030 has reshaped Hajj and Umrah operations and improved the experience of pilgrims globally.
The NAHCON chairman also raised concerns regarding Umrah visa challenges affecting Nigerian pilgrims, particularly cases of overstaying by a small number of travellers. He assured the Saudi authorities that Nigeria is tightening oversight of licensed tour operators, strengthening data accountability, and expanding public awareness campaigns to promote full compliance with Saudi regulations.
Speaking , the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, described the visit as historic and emphasized its importance in strengthening Nigeria–Saudi relations. He conveyed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s goodwill message to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, and to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to sustaining cordial and mutually beneficial ties.
Tuggar noted that collaboration in Hajj and Umrah administration remains a cornerstone of bilateral relations, shaped by shared religious values and long-standing people-to-people connections. He recalled Nigeria’s historic pilgrimage links to the Holy Land and stressed the need for future discussions on expanding Nigeria’s Hajj quota in line with demographic realities.
In his remarks, Saudi Arabia Minister of Hajj and Umrah. Dr.Tawfiq Al-Rabiah , reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s readiness to deepen institutional cooperation with Nigeria to ensure safe, orderly, and efficient pilgrimage operations. He disclosed that about 89,000 Nigerians performed Umrah in 2025, supported by roughly 420 outbound flights through King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.
The Saudi minister expressed confidence that continued collaboration would enhance preparations for the 1447 Hijri Hajj season, with emphasis on operational readiness, safety, service quality, and regulatory compliance. He also reiterated the Kingdom’s support for awareness initiatives such as the “No Hajj without a permit” campaign.
Both countries agreed to sustain close coordination, strengthen compliance mechanisms, and pursue practical measures aimed at improving the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims while safeguarding the integrity of Hajj and Umrah operations.
