Nigeria, Saudi Arabia Deepen Hajj Cooperation, Unveils Digital Solution to Umrah Visa Challenges
Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation on Hajj and Umrah operations, as the Federal Government unveiled a new digital strategy to tackle longstanding consular and visa-related challenges ahead of the next Hajj season.
Speaking in Abuja on Tuesday during a high-level engagement with a Saudi delegation, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, through the Permanent Secretary, Mr Ahmed Dunoma, praised the visiting Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dr Tawfiq Fawzan Al-Rabiah, for deepening bilateral cooperation at a critical stage of preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage.
Dunoma described the visit as a strong demonstration of the enduring bonds of friendship, shared faith and mutual respect between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, noting that cooperation in Hajj and Umrah administration remains a key pillar of the relationship between both countries.
He conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, reaffirming Nigeria’s resolve to further strengthen its long-standing ties with the Kingdom.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry commended Saudi Arabia for reforms and investments aimed at improving the safety, efficiency and overall experience of pilgrims, describing the initiatives as visionary and beneficial to the global Muslim community.
Addressing recent challenges surrounding Umrah visas and consular overstays, Dunoma disclosed that the Federal Government has approved a strategic collaboration between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a digital platform, Asfaar.ng, as a sustainable technological solution to the problem.
According to him, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) has already granted approval for the partnership, which was first discussed and endorsed during President Tinubu’s official visit to Riyadh in consultations with Saudi authorities.
He formally requested the support of the Saudi Minister for the initiative and invited him to briefly inspect the facility, stressing that the project would serve the mutual interests of both nations and help prevent future visa-related complications.
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Dunoma reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to close collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and other relevant institutions to strengthen coordination, address operational issues and explore new areas of cooperation aimed at improving service delivery and pilgrimage management for Nigerian pilgrims.
Both Nigeria and Saudi Arabia expressed confidence that the engagement would produce practical outcomes and further consolidate the strong bilateral relationship between the two countries.
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