NIGERIA: Saudi Arabia Sponsors 20 Nigerian Pilgrims For Umrah In 2025

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

Saudi Arabia has selected 20 Nigerians to participate in the 2025 Umrah pilgrimage, fully sponsored by the Kingdom.

The sponsorship is part of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme, aimed at promoting Islamic unity and offering Muslims worldwide the opportunity to visit Islam’s holiest sites.

This development was made known in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, by the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The statement reads: “As part of its dedication to promoting Islamic unity and facilitating access to Islam’s most sacred sites for Muslims around the world, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Embassy in Abuja hosted a grand farewell ceremony for 20 Nigerian pilgrims selected for the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques’ Guests Programme for Umrah 2025.

“The ceremony held under the leadership of His Excellency Faisal bin Ibrahim Al-Ghamdi, Saudi Ambassador to Nigeria, highlighted the Kingdom’s unwavering commitment to supporting Muslims and fostering spiritual connections through pilgrimage.

“The programme, initiated by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, provides Muslims from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to perform Umrah with full sponsorship, symbolising Saudi Arabia’s role as the spiritual heart of the Islamic world.”

In his speech, Ambassador Al-Ghamdi expressed gratitude to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their continued dedication to Islam’s sacred sites.

He praised their leadership in improving services for pilgrims, ensuring their comfort, and maintaining a smooth pilgrimage process.

The ambassador also shared that Saudi Arabia had invested over $100 billion in modernising and expanding the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina.

These projects include advanced infrastructure, crowd management systems, and state-of-the-art technology to accommodate the growing number of pilgrims yearly.

Al-Ghamdi emphasised the Kingdom’s responsibility to serve the guests of God, underscoring the importance of adhering to Saudi regulations to ensure the safety and comfort of all pilgrims.

He said: “The leadership of Saudi Arabia remains fully committed to serving the guests of God. This is a responsibility we hold dear, and we continuously strive to enhance the spiritual and logistical aspects of the pilgrimage experience.”