The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has debunked the information circulating online about the Saudi-visa Umrah and Hajj suspension .
In a statement released by NAHCON ,the agency said the news is false and it has not received any official communication from Saudi authorities on the matter.
The Agency advised the Public to disregard the rumor and rely only on official update.
According to a recent directive, individuals from the affected countries holding valid short-term Saudi visas may still travel to the Kingdom before April 13, 2025, but must leave no later than April 29, 2025.
Failure to comply with this directive could result in penalties, including a possible five-year ban on entering Saudi Arabia.
The travel restriction is expected to remain in place until June, coinciding with the conclusion of the 2025 Hajj season. Saudi authorities say the move is aimed at managing travel ahead of the pilgrimage and addressing concerns about overcrowding and the misuse of non-Hajj visas, which was a major issue during the 2024 Hajj season. That year, extreme heat and logistical challenges contributed to the deaths of at least 1,301 pilgrims, most of whom did not possess official Hajj permits.
In related developments:
- Nigeria and Saudi Arabia recently signed a pact to combat drug trafficking.
- The Nigerian government has denied reports of a blanket entry ban on Nigerians and 13 other nationalities for the 2025 Hajj.
- The FCT Pilgrims Board has reassured those eligible of refunds for the 2023 Hajj.
Under Saudi Arabia’s quota system, each country is granted a specific number of Hajj permits, typically distributed through a lottery. However, due to the high cost of official Hajj packages, many pilgrims opt for unauthorized means, using visit or Umrah visas to participate in the pilgrimage—an act that Saudi officials say contributes significantly to overcrowding and unregulated activity.
The latest directive has sparked confusion and misinformation on social media in Nigeria, with some interpreting it as a blanket ban on Nigerian pilgrims for Hajj 2025. However, an official from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) clarified that such policy adjustments are not unusual, and urged stakeholders to consult the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Saudi authorities for official clarification.
Importantly, the restriction does not affect pilgrims properly registered through the official Hajj scheme coordinated by NAHCON or licensed tour operators. Nigerians traveling through authorized channels will still be granted access to Saudi Arabia during the designated Hajj period.
This visa suspension also follows earlier changes made in February 2025, when Saudi Arabia limited travelers from the same 14 countries to single-entry visas valid for 30 days, and indefinitely suspended the issuance of one-year multiple-entry visas.
