Nigeria Not Affected by Saudi Visa Ban – Foreign Ministry

Nigeria is not among the countries facing an entry ban into Saudi Arabia starting April 13, the Federal Government has confirmed. This clarification was made by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Tuggar, in response to a widely circulated memo that falsely included Nigeria in the list of affected nations.

According to a statement from the minister’s Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, Saudi authorities officially denied the existence of any such directive. Tuggar described the viral document—which also listed countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, India, and Pakistan—as misleading and inaccurate.

He noted that the Saudi Tourism Centre has confirmed there are no new restrictions affecting Nigerian travellers. The only current travel guideline pertains to the Hajj pilgrimage, specifically affecting holders of tourist visas. “To clarify, the only restriction concerns tourist visa holders during the Hajj period,” Tuggar stated.

Between April 29 and June 11 (01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH), individuals holding tourist visas are not permitted to perform Hajj or enter and stay in Makkah. The Hajj visa remains the sole valid entry permit for religious pilgrims during that time.

Tuggar urged the public to disregard the false memo and verify travel information through official and recognised sources. “Sharing unverified information causes confusion and may affect travel arrangements,” he warned. Travellers were advised to consult Saudi authorities, the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or accredited diplomatic channels for accurate updates.