Saudi Ban: Nigeria not affected, says FG

The Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed reports suggesting that Saudi Arabia has placed Nigeria on a list of countries facing an entry ban starting April 13.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, through his Special Assistant on Media and Communications Strategy, Alkasim Abdulkadir, clarified on Monday that the viral memo circulating online is false and misleading.

According to Tuggar, Saudi authorities have officially confirmed that no such directive exists targeting Nigeria or other countries like Egypt, India, and Pakistan, as previously claimed in the document.

“The Saudi Tourism Centre confirmed no such directive exists. Current official travel guidelines only apply to the Hajj pilgrimage,” the minister stated.

He explained that the only restriction in place affects holders of tourist visas during the Hajj period. Between April 29 and June 11 (01 Thul Quda to 14 Thul Hijjah 1446 AH), individuals with tourist visas are prohibited from performing Hajj or entering Makkah.

Tuggar emphasized that only Hajj visas are valid for entry into Makkah during that period and urged the public to disregard the memo.

“Sharing unverified information causes confusion and may affect travel arrangements,” he warned.

The minister further advised Nigerians to confirm travel details through official channels, including the Saudi Embassy, the Nigerian Foreign Ministry, or other recognized diplomatic sources.