The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has dismissed claims suggesting that over 600 Nigerian pilgrims illegally remained in Saudi Arabia following the recent Hajj pilgrimage.
Former Kaduna Central Senator Shehu Sani had raised concerns on social media, alleging that these pilgrims had stayed behind, which might lead Saudi authorities to impose stricter visa regulations.
Senator Sani’s tweet warned, “Over 600 Nigerians who traveled to Saudi Arabia for lesser Hajj have refused to return, which will likely result in tightened visa rules by Saudi authorities, affecting future travelers.”
In response, NAHCON’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, stated there is no evidence from either Saudi or Nigerian authorities to support the claim. “We have not received any such communication from Saudi Arabia, nor from Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs or Immigration Services,” Usara told The PUNCH.
This allegation comes shortly after President Bola Tinubu removed Jalal Arabi, the former Chairman of the Hajj Commission, amid accusations of mismanagement and the misappropriation of ₦90 billion in Hajj subsidy funds.
The 2024 Hajj pilgrimage saw 51,477 Nigerian pilgrims participating, each paying ₦6.9 million for the journey. The pilgrimage began on May 15, 2024, with the final return flight arriving in Ilorin, Kwara State, on July 16, 2024. Senator Sani’s claim suggests that the alleged 600 pilgrims have remained in Saudi Arabia for about six weeks since the pilgrimage concluded.
