The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, is trying to fix a problem with not having enough umrah visas for Nigerians during Ramadan.
Mrs. Fatima Sanda-Usara, Assistant Director, Public Affairs, NAHCON, explained that it’s because some people are misusing the system for getting these visas.
According to her, Umrah visas are given to countries in limited amounts, especially for Ramadan, when they cost more.
Recently, Saudi Arabia made the visas valid for 90 days. Many Nigerians got these visas for cheaper during other times, planning to use them for umrah during Ramadan.
But some of them either stayed longer in Saudi Arabia or held onto their visas until Ramadan, causing a shortage for others.
Because Ramadan is a popular time for umrah, the demand for visas goes up, making the shortage worse. This means many Nigerians can’t go for their religious duties.
NAHCON is trying to fix this. They wrote to Saudi Arabia to explain the problem and how it affects Nigerian tour operators.
Also, the Chairman of NAHCON went to the Saudi Embassy in Nigeria to find solutions.
NAHCON is working hard to solve this issue and make sure Nigerians can fulfill their religious obligations.
