Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have pledged to jointly address recurring challenges associated with Hajj and Umrah operations, as both countries move to improve pilgrimage management and service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims.
Nigerian Pilot reports that the commitment was made on Tuesday in Abuja during a high-level meeting between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Tuggar, and the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfig AlRabiah. The meeting focused on operational bottlenecks, consular concerns, and the need for closer institutional coordination to enhance the overall pilgrimage experience.
Speaking during the engagement, Tuggar said cooperation in Hajj and Umrah administration remains a cornerstone of Nigeria-Saudi relations, stressing the shared responsibility of both governments to safeguard the welfare, dignity, and spiritual fulfilment of pilgrims. He reaffirmed Nigeria’s determination to work closely with Saudi authorities to resolve logistical and administrative issues that have persisted in recent seasons.
The minister disclosed that the Nigerian Government has adopted a technology-driven solution to address recurring consular challenges, particularly issues related to Umrah visa overstays. According to him, the initiative involves a strategic partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a digital platform designed to improve compliance and monitoring.
Tuggar added that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, ICRC has approved the partnership, noting that the approach had earlier received endorsement during President Bola Tinubu’s official visit to Saudi Arabia, following discussions with the Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs.
He also conveyed President Tinubu’s goodwill to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, commending Saudi Arabia’s reforms and investments aimed at improving safety, efficiency, and service delivery for pilgrims.
Both countries expressed confidence that the engagement would produce practical solutions to long-standing Hajj and Umrah challenges and further strengthen bilateral cooperation in pilgrimage administration.
By Emmanuel Obisue, Abuja
