2025 Hajj: Shettima Orders NAHCON to Address Visa Issues, Assures No Nigerian Pilgrim Will Be Left Behind
Vice President Kashim Shettima has assured Nigerians, particularly the Muslim community, that no Nigerian intending pilgrim will be excluded from the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, emphasizing that the entire process will be smooth and without complications.
In response to concerns over potential visa issues, the Vice President has directed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to take all necessary actions to ensure a seamless pilgrimage for Nigerian pilgrims.
This directive came after a meeting between Vice President Shettima and the management and board of NAHCON at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday. The meeting was convened following reports that a dispute with Saudi service provider Mashariq Al-Dhahabiah could lead to visa denials for Nigerian pilgrims.
“We will not allow any Nigerian intending pilgrim to miss the 2025 Hajj. The pilgrimage will be seamless, and every challenge will be promptly addressed,” Vice President Shettima said in a statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha.
He further instructed NAHCON to take all necessary steps to ensure the participation of every registered pilgrim, adding, “NAHCON must ensure that no one is left behind. We must establish the right standards, move in the right direction, and ensure a hitch-free Hajj.”
NAHCON Chairman, Prof. Saleh Usman, had earlier assured the public that the contract dispute with the Saudi-based company would not affect the pilgrimage. “There is no cause for alarm. No registered pilgrim will be left behind,” Usman declared.
He also dismissed concerns raised by the Forum of States Pilgrim Welfare Agencies, which suggested that the contractual issue could derail the pilgrimage.
