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By — Yusuf Awed
Two months ago, I sent an email to the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria, copying their office in Saudi Arabia and another agency monitoring immigration in Saudi Arabia. I highlighted the unfair treatment Nigerians face regarding Umrah visa costs. Here’s the breakdown I provided:
- Visa Disparity: Travelers with Schengen, U.S., or U.K. visas can get a Visa on Arrival in Jeddah for just $150 (about ₦225,000 at the current black market rate). This visa is valid for one year.
- Nigerian Charges: In contrast, Nigerians applying from Nigeria are charged about ₦1.3 million for a single-entry visa with a validity of just one month, or at most three months.
- Opaque Process: This disparity exists because Nigerians are barred from accessing the transparent Umrah visa process through online applications. Instead, Nigerian travel agencies are forced to go through Saudi agencies, which inflate prices, further driving up the overall cost.
- Comparative Costs: A U.K.-based Muslim recently shared that a single-entry Umrah visa from the U.K. costs about £35 — around ₦75,000 — for the same purpose Nigerians pay ₦1.3 million for.
It’s been two months, and there has been no response or action taken to address this issue. It’s disheartening that our government isn’t scrutinizing this process to protect Nigerian Muslims from such exploitation. The silence is deafening, and the situation is truly pathetic.
From the wall of Abdul-Kadir Abdul-ganiyu
