Confusion and concern spread across Nigeria on Monday over reports of new Saudi Arabian visa restrictions, raising fears that Nigerian Muslims might be barred from participating in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

This anxiety stemmed from a statement by Saudi authorities, disseminated via Gulf-based media, which announced a temporary halt in issuing certain short-term visas—such as business, tourist, and family visit visas—to nationals of 14 countries, including Nigeria. The suspension takes effect from April 13, 2025, and is expected to last until the end of the Hajj season in June.

The Federal Government quickly moved to dispel rumours that Nigeria was included in a list of countries banned from entering Saudi Arabia. In an official clarification, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, dismissed the widely circulated memo as false.

According to Saudi authorities, holders of already issued visas from affected countries may enter the Kingdom before April 13 but must exit by April 29, 2025, or risk facing penalties, including a potential five-year entry ban. This move, officials say, aims to manage crowd control and curb the misuse of non-Hajj visas following the tragic deaths of over 1,300 pilgrims during the 2024 Hajj—many of whom lacked official permits and suffered fatal heat exposure.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) reassured intending pilgrims that those who are officially registered through NAHCON or licensed tour operators remain eligible to perform the pilgrimage. The restriction only targets tourist and short-term visa holders—not those with valid Hajj visas.

NAHCON further urged Nigerians to verify travel-related updates through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Saudi embassies, warning against reliance on social media reports. The Saudi Tourism Centre also clarified that the only restriction in place affects tourist visa holders, who are barred from entering or staying in Makkah between April 29 and June 11, 2025.

The current directive aligns with earlier February 2025 restrictions, which limited travellers from the same 14 countries to single-entry visas valid for just 30 days, while suspending one-year multi-entry visas.

In summary, while Saudi Arabia has introduced tighter travel controls in the lead-up to the 2025 Hajj, Nigerian pilgrims who follow official channels remain unaffected by the short-term visa suspension.