Effizzie Magazine
Abuja Coorrespondent
Gloria Uwais
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports alleging that Saudi Arabian authorities have imposed a visa ban on Nigerians and 12 other nationalities.
In a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, clarified that Saudi officials had confirmed the viral memo circulating online, which suggested Nigeria’s inclusion in a list of visa-banned countries, was false.
He called the document, which named countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, India, Pakistan, and others, as misleading and inaccurate.
The statement reads:
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs firmly denies the false claims circulating online, which state that Nigeria has been added to a list of countries facing an entry ban to Saudi Arabia from April 13, 2025.
Saudi Arabian authorities have officially discredited the viral memo, which incorrectly states that several countries, including Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and others, would face visa restrictions and an entry ban.
The Saudi Tourism Centre has confirmed that no such directive exists, and the only official travel guidelines currently pertain to the Hajj pilgrimage.
To clarify, the only restriction applies to tourist visa holders during the Hajj season. Individuals holding tourist visas are not permitted to perform Hajj, enter, or stay in Makkah between April 29 and June 11, 2025 (from 01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH). The Hajj visa is the only official entry permit for pilgrims during this period.”
The Ministry urged the public to ignore the misleading document and to verify travel information with official sources before making decisions.
“Spreading unverified information can lead to unnecessary confusion and disrupt travel plans. For accurate and up-to-date details, travelers are encouraged to consult official Saudi government sources, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or accredited diplomatic channels,” the statement emphasized.
Earlier this week, online reports circulated claiming that Saudi Arabia had temporarily suspended Nigerians and citizens of 13 other countries from applying for specific visa categories in preparation for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina.
The 13 countries allegedly listed were: Egypt, Morocco, Algeria, Sudan, Ethiopia, India, Tunisia, Iraq, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Yemen, Jordan, and Indonesia. The reports claimed the suspension aimed to prevent unregistered individuals from attempting the pilgrimage without official permits, which could pose safety and logistical challenges.
