Nigeria Seeks Saudi Support to Tackle Umrah Visa Overstay Challenges
Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their longstanding diplomatic relations and shared commitment to strengthening the administration of Hajj and Umrah following a high-level meeting held in Abuja between Nigeria’s Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah.
Welcoming the Saudi delegation, the Foreign Affairs Minister described the visit as a testament to the enduring bonds of friendship, brotherhood, and cooperation between both countries, rooted in shared faith, mutual respect, and strong people-to-people ties.
The Minister conveyed the warm greetings of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, as well as to the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s resolve to further deepen its cordial and strategic relations with the Kingdom.
Highlighting pilgrimage administration as a central pillar of Nigeria–Saudi relations, the Minister stressed the shared responsibility of both governments to protect the welfare, dignity, and spiritual fulfilment of pilgrims. He commended Saudi Arabia for its wide-ranging reforms and investments aimed at improving pilgrim safety, operational efficiency, and the overall pilgrimage experience, describing the initiatives as evidence of visionary leadership and commitment to the global Muslim community.
During the meeting, the Saudi Minister was briefed on Nigeria’s recent efforts to address recurring consular challenges linked to Umrah visa overstays. The Foreign Affairs Minister disclosed that the Federal Government has approved a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Asfaar.ng as a sustainable solution to the problem.
He explained that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has granted approval for the collaboration, noting that the initiative was first discussed and endorsed during President Tinubu’s official visit to Riyadh, following consultations with Saudi authorities.
The Minister sought the Saudi Minister’s support for the initiative and invited him to inspect the facility, emphasising that the project is designed to serve the mutual interests of both countries.
Reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to close collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and other relevant institutions, the Minister called for enhanced coordination to address operational challenges and explore new areas of partnership to further improve pilgrimage management for Nigerian pilgrims.
Both sides expressed optimism that the engagement would yield practical outcomes and further consolidate the excellent bilateral relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
