Over 2,700 Nigerian Pilgrims Denied Visas for 2025 Hajj by Saudi Arabia

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has confirmed that 2,717 Nigerian pilgrims have been denied visas for the 2025 Hajj by Saudi Arabian authorities, due to the closure of the visa processing portal.

The development was announced in a statement issued on Monday by NAHCON’s Assistant Director of Information and Publication, Fatima Usara. The commission said it deeply regrets the situation, stating that all efforts to persuade Saudi authorities to briefly reopen the visa portal—even for an hour—were unsuccessful.

“Despite several appeals to the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to reopen the visa portal, the request was not granted. This affected 2,717 intending pilgrims who registered late,” the statement read.

NAHCON urged affected pilgrims to remain hopeful and spiritually grounded, reminding them that Hajj is a divine call and advising all future participants to plan ahead to avoid similar disappointment.

According to the commission, Hajj registration deadlines were extended four times—from fare payment deadlines to visa issuance windows. Despite multiple warnings, some pilgrims delayed their payments, ultimately missing the final deadline.

“We formally requested an extension, which was granted, but access to visa issuance was eventually blocked on May 19, 2025,” the commission explained.

NAHCON said that the one-month extension beyond the original April 19 deadline had helped many State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards and Tour Operators complete arrangements. As of the visa closure date, 13,217 visas had been issued to Tour Operator Companies out of 14,158 registered pilgrims, indicating strong private sector participation.

In the same statement, NAHCON emphasized that only Rawaf Mina Company is officially recognized to provide Tent A+ services for the 2025 Hajj. It warned tour operators against engaging with unapproved service providers, adding that the commission would not be responsible for any fallout from such actions.

NAHCON reiterated its commitment to protecting Nigerian pilgrims and promised to continue working with Saudi authorities to ensure service standards are upheld.

“We urge all tour operators to adhere strictly to Saudi regulations and prioritize the welfare of their pilgrims,” the commission stated.