2025 Hajj: Saudi Arabia suspends Hajj visas for Nigeria, as NAHCON calls for calm

Anxiety has gripped the prospective Pilgrims for this year's Hajj exercise in Saudi Arabia over the decision of the Kingdom to suspend issuance of Hajj visas to Nigeria and 13 other countries.

This is coming few months ahead of the 2025 pilgrimage season despite that Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest number of annual pilgrims for the annual spiritual exercise.

The development has put thousands of intending pilgrims from Nigeria in uncertainty, especially with no official reasons from Riyadh.

However, an insider revealed that the suspension has to do with diplomatic factors, including irregularities in travel documentation, incomplete biometric data, and recent adjustments to Saudi Arabia’s Hajj policy.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s National Hajj Commission (NAHCON) has called on the intending Pilgrims and Stakeholders to remain calm.

The commission, in a statement, asked the intending pilgrims to avoid panic.

“We are aware of the suspension and are actively engaging Saudi authorities through diplomatic channels to seek clarity and resolution.” 

“While we understand the anxiety this has caused, we ask all registered pilgrims to remain calm and refrain from making hasty decisions. We are working with our partners to ensure the issue is addressed swiftly.”NAHCON said.

Recall Nigeria alongside other countries such as Pakistan, Sudan, and Ethiopia, among others in Africa and Asia were suspended.

The fallout from the visa halt is already being felt by the travel agencies, state pilgrims’ boards, and individuals who have paid deposits or completed biometric registrations face possible financial and emotional strain if the issue remains unresolved.