Soliu Oyesiji.
The Saudi Arabian Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabbiah, has disclosed that about 450 direct flights operated between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in 2025, reflecting a significant increase in Hajj and Umrah airlift activities.
The minister said the growing number of flights underscores the rising demand for pilgrimage travel from Nigeria and the expanding scale of air transport operations linking both countries, as first reported by Hajj Reporters.
He explained that the figures illustrate Nigeria’s critical role in global pilgrimage movements and emphasised the need to strengthen institutional collaboration to enhance efficiency and service delivery for pilgrims.
According to the minister, Saudi Arabia intends to consolidate the gains recorded through closer coordination with Nigerian authorities in preparation for future Hajj seasons.
Nigerian officials, on their part, described the data as a sign of deepening bilateral ties and a pointer to new opportunities for operational and economic cooperation within the Hajj and Umrah sector.
