Ahead of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia has imposed a temporary visa ban on 14 countries, including Nigeria.
Saudi Arabia said the temporary visa ban on Nigeria and other 13 countries is part of efforts to manage overcrowding and enhance safety during the annual religious event.
The decision, effective until mid-June 2025, suspends the issuance of Umrah, business, and family visit visas for citizens of the affected nations.
The affected countries include Nigeria, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Algeria, Ethiopia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
This means that Nigerians won’t be able to attend the 2025 Hajj which is expected to take place between June 4 and June 9 (subject to moon sighting).
According to Saudi officials, the temporary ban aims to curb unauthorized participation in the Hajj pilgrimage, a recurring issue said to have led to overcrowding and tragic incidents in recent years.
The decision follows a devastating incident during the 2024 Hajj, where over 1,200 pilgrims reportedly lost their lives due to extreme heat and overcrowding.
This ban on visas also comes after Saudi Arabia temporarily suspended one-year multiple-entry visas indefinitely and restricted travel from these 14 countries to single-entry visas valid for 30 days in February 2025.
To prevent a repeat of such events, Saudi Arabia has tightened its visa policies. “The goal is to ensure that only registered pilgrims with proper authorization participate in Hajj,” a Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson stated.
“Unregistered individuals often lack access to essential services, increasing safety hazards for everyone involved.”
For Nigeria, one of the 14 nations on the list, the visa ban poses a challenge. With a large Muslim population and an allocated Hajj quota of over 95,000 pilgrims for 2025, the country has a strong tradition of participation in the pilgrimage.
However, the suspension of Umrah, business, and family visit visas could disrupt travel plans for thousands of Nigerians intending to visit Saudi Arabia for religious or personal reasons before the 2025 Hajj season.
Nigerian pilgrims and travel agencies are now urged to adhere strictly to the official Hajj registration process, managed through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Meanwhile, the commission has yet to release an official statement on the ban.
