By Abuja, Nigeria
The Nigerian government and the government of Saudi Arabia has reaffirmed their commitment to shared partnership in politics, trade and especially in Hajj, to protect pilgrims from Nigeria to Mecca and other holy cities in Saudi Arabia.
The commitment was re-emphasized during a courtesy call on Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar by the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah at the ministry’s headquarters on Tuesday in Abuja.
Speaking at the ceremony, Hajj Minister of Saudi Arabia, Dr. Al-Rabiah assured Nigerians of their security and welfare during pilgrimage to the country.
He added that Nigeria ranked among countries with high participants at the annual event, stressing that the country look forward to more numbers this year and beyond.
“The Kingdom welcomed approximately 89,000 Umrah performers from Nigeria in 2025, 92% of whom arrived on Umrah visas. During the same year, the number of direct flights reached around 420 flights through Kingdom Days International Airport in Jeddah.”
“We look forward to building on this positive development in a way that serves the guest of Allah from Nigeria,” he added.
Speaking earlier in his opening remarks, Nigeria Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar said Nigeria -Saudi Arabia cut across politics, economy and pilgrimage.
He maintained that Hajj remains a way of connecting people of both countries, as he recall that pilgrimage of Nigerians to Saudi Arabia dated centuries back.
“For decades this relationship has continued to flourish across political, economic, cultural and spiritual dimensions. Cooperation in the administration of Hajj and Umrah remains one of the most significant pillars of this partnership, reflecting our collective responsibility to safeguard the welfare, dignity and spiritual fulfillment of pilgrims.”
The people living around the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue, which I’m sure you saw as you were landing, have been visiting the Holy Land on pilgrimage since the period after Opa Benavi established Haiwan in present-day Tunisia, and thereafter traveled southwards,” he reiterated.
