Constant negative reports about Hajj operations particularly as they relate to Saudi Arabian service providers have been identified as likely the major reason for the ongoing scarcity of visas for Nigerians trying to travel to the country to perform Umrah.
Obtaining an entry visa to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah has always been easy for Nigerian pilgrims but that has not been the case since last year.
Many intending pilgrims to Ramadan Umrah last year could not reach the holy land because they could not secure entry visas.
The reasons given at the time were that the slots allocated to Nigeria had been utilised and many who travelled to Saudi Arabia before the fasting period did not exit the country to allow more spaces to be allocated.
Saudi had last year introduced a three-month visa validity instead of the usual one month, hence allowing pilgrims and tourists to stay longer than usual.
HAJJ REPORTERS observed that the situation is worse this year because months before Ramadan, private tour operators are having difficulty obtaining visas for their pilgrims.
HAJJ REPORTERS reached out to various sources both in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Nigeria to find out the reasons for the difficulty in obtaining visas and we were informed that ” it has to do with the constant negative reports about Saudi Arabian Hajj industry in Nigeria”.
Though HAJJ REPORTERS understand that the Kingdom officially allocated 250 Umrah visas to Nigerian Agents per day – a figure many believe is far below the status of Nigeria as the fifth largest Hajj contingent.
This is why our source said there may be an unofficial reason why Nigeria is having difficulty in securing an Umrah Visa.
One of our sources who declined to be named said “The authorities here are very sensitive to negative reports, that is why they don’t joke with poor services. They make sure that not only are companies forced to refund for services not rendered, but many of the service providers are heavily sanctioned.
” They feel that they have been doing enough for Hajj participating countries and most countries appreciate the efforts except Nigeria,” he said.
“The challenge of providing adequate services, especially in Mina affects almost all countries but they explore diplomatic options to communicate their concerns and not the way our people keep harassing Saudi Arabian Hajj authorities in the Media” he said.
Further findings by HAJJ REPORTERS indicate that Saudi Arabian authorities are not happy with the way the Association of Hajj and Umrah Operators of Nigeria (AHUON) are constantly attacking the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and some Saudi service providers “without justification”.
A Nigerian based in Saudi Arabia who works closely with some of the service providers informed us that “these companies that our people keep attacking are very strong and have the ears of the powers that be, there is no way you will continue to attack their business and they will not react, I think that is the problem,” he said.
He also said that “unless Nigeria becomes smart like other countries, our problem is just starting.”
