Soliu Oyesiji.
A Saudi Arabian delegation has explained the reasons behind the current scarcity of Umrah visas for Nigerian tour operators, attributing the situation largely to cases of overstaying by some Nigerian Umrah pilgrims in the Kingdom.
The delegation from the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah made the disclosure while responding to questions during a meeting with State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards and private Hajj and Umrah operators. According to the officials, frequent incidents of pilgrims overstaying their visas compelled Saudi authorities to reduce Nigeria’s Umrah visa quota in a bid to address the challenge.
They, however, noted that there has been a noticeable improvement, revealing that Nigeria has now been classified as a low-risk country in terms of visa overstaying. The delegation expressed optimism that this development could lead the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to reconsider the current limitations and introduce measures to ease access to Umrah visas for Nigerians.
Hajj Reporters recalls that Umrah visa processing for Nigerian pilgrims was previously smooth, but challenges emerged last year when many intending Ramadan pilgrims were unable to travel due to visa shortages. At the time, authorities cited the exhaustion of allocated slots and the failure of earlier pilgrims to exit Saudi Arabia promptly.
Saudi Arabia’s introduction of a three-month visa validity, replacing the former one-month duration, also allowed pilgrims and tourists to stay longer in the Kingdom, further reducing available slots for new applicants.
Investigations by Hajj Reporters show that the situation has worsened this year, with private tour operators struggling to secure visas months ahead of Ramadan. Although the Kingdom reportedly allocates about 250 Umrah visas daily to Nigerian agents, stakeholders argue that the figure is inadequate for Nigeria, the world’s fifth largest Hajj contingent.
Some operators have therefore suggested that, beyond official explanations, other underlying factors may be contributing to the continued difficulty Nigerians face in obtaining Umrah visas.
