Soliu Oyesiji.
Saudi Arabian officials have disclosed that more than 75,000 Nigerian Muslims now perform Umrah every year, reflecting a steady rise in participation and improved compliance with Umrah regulations.
The Saudi delegation praised Nigeria for a significant reduction in cases of pilgrims overstaying their visas, a development that has led to the country being reclassified as a low-risk Umrah nation. According to the officials, Nigeria’s annual Umrah figure has grown from about 25,000 pilgrims in previous years to over 75,000.
The disclosure was made during a stakeholders’ meeting involving executive secretaries and chairmen of State Pilgrims’ Welfare Boards, alongside executive directors and managers of private #Hajj and Umrah tour operators.
Providing an operational briefing, the Commissioner for Operations, Prince Anofiu Elegushi, outlined key challenges confronting Nigerian pilgrims, including Hajj quota reduction, visa uncertainties, limited accommodation, transportation challenges, and Mashair services.
Elegushi noted that thousands of Nigerians who had fully paid for Hajj were unable to perform the pilgrimage due to inadequate slots, describing the situation as the most pressing concern facing Hajj stakeholders in the country.
