No Nigerian will miss 2025 Hajj – Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia that none of them will miss the pilgrimage due to visa-related challenges.
The VP assured that the Federal Government would take necessary measures for them to have a smooth and hitch-free pilgrimage.
He directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to ensure smooth and unhindered pilgrimage for all the nation’s intending pilgrims.
This was the outcome of a meeting the Vice President had yesterday with NAHCON management and board in his office at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Shettima had summoned the meeting following reports that a contractual dispute with Saudi service provider, Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah, could potentially lead to visa denials for Nigerian pilgrims.
In a statement in Abuja by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communications, Stanley Nkwocha, Shettima said: “We will not allow any Nigerian intending pilgrim to miss the 2025 Hajj. The pilgrimage will be seamless, and every challenge will be addressed promptly.”
“NAHCON must do whatever it takes to guarantee the full participation of our pilgrims without any hindrance.
“From now on, we must set the right standards, move in the right direction and have a hitch-free hajj exercise.”
Also, the Chairman of NAHCON, Prof. Abdullahi Usman, assured intending pilgrims from Nigeria that they will not miss this year’s Hajj.
Usman debunked the allegations that he was truncating the preparation for this year’s Hajj by cancelling deals with Saudi Arabia Masha’ir companies.
On Sunday, the Forum of Chief Executive Officers of State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, Agencies and Commissions, through its Secretary, Abubakar Salihu, had raised concern over the alleged cancellation of the Masha’ir contract.
Salihu had alleged that thousands of Nigerian intending pilgrims might miss this year’s Hajj due to the cancellation of service providers’ contract by NAHCON’s leadership.
Reacting to the allegation, Usman said the allegations were aimed at smearing his hard-earned reputation as an Islamic scholar
“The contract with the Saudi Arabia-based company was cancelled by the same Saudi Government and they later approved it and subsequently cancelled for the second time. So, you can see that I have nothing to do with the cancellation.
“Because of this up and down, we are doing everything possible to ensure that the right thing is done. We are also doing everything according to the dictate of the laws.
“I am assuring all our intending Muslim pilgrims that none of them will miss this year’s Hajj,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has said it is engaging with Saudi Arabian authorities over the recent listing of Nigeria among nations restricted from multiple entry visas.
Saudi Arabia recently introduced new visa regulations that will impact travelers from 14 countries, restricting them to single-entry visas that will be valid for 30 days with no option for extension.
The changes apply to tourists, business travelers, and those visiting family members, while excluding applicants for Hajj, Umrah, diplomatic, or residency visas.
The new regulations target travellers from Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Morocco, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sudan, Tunisia, and Yemen.
