Hajj 2025: Saudi authorities begin visa issuance on February 19

The 2025 Hajj operations will take full effect next month as Saudi Arabia authorities commence the issuance of Hajj visas to intending pilgrims starting from February 19, 2025.

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Professor Abdullahi Usman, announced the rollout of the travel documents during a meeting with Licensed Tour Operators in Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

NAHCON’s engagement with private operators aimed to stay updated on developments and preparations for the Hajj operations.

The deliberations were part of a series of activities the commission embarked upon with various stakeholders to fine-tune arrangements during the pre-Hajj visit to the holy land.

Professor Usman said that beyond updates, the essence of the engagement was to promote understanding and improve service delivery for Nigerian private pilgrims.

He urged all members at the meeting to remember the purpose of their presence in Saudi Arabia: the well-being of intending pilgrims.

He welcomed observations, questions, suggestions, and constructive criticisms.

A statement released by Fatima Sanda noted that tour operators were reminded of the February 14, 2025, deadline for remittance of Hajj fares into the IBAN accounts to meet the February 19, 2025, visa issuance commencement date.

“Similarly, it was resolved that LPTOs are free to affiliate with any of the 10 leading companies across the zones, except where the lead company has reached the 2,000-pilgrim limit. Hence, the 10 lead companies remain unchanged.

“NAHCON and the LPTOs reaffirmed their commitment to their common interest: providing the best services for pilgrims while maintaining inclusivity in the process. Both parties expressed the need to accommodate one another for a seamless Hajj exercise,” Sanda stated.

In a previous meeting, NAHCON chairman signed the 2025 Hajj Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah on behalf of Nigeria, signaling commitment to adhere to Saudi rules of engagement during the pilgrimage.

During the week, Usman also announced the approval of four official air carriers to convey Nigerian pilgrims for the 2025 exercise.

The successful airlines were selected out of 11 companies that submitted applications to airlift Nigerian Muslim pilgrims.

The selected airlines are Air Peace Limited, Fly-Nas, Max Air, and UMZA Aviation Services Limited.