The Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board has confirmed that visas for all registered pilgrims from the state intending to perform the 2026 Hajj in Saudi Arabia have been received and printed, despite growing concerns about flight disruptions linked to tensions in the Middle East.
The Director-General of the board, Abubakar Matawalle, disclosed the development through the board’s Public Relations Officer, Sulaiman Dederi, in a statement issued on Thursday.
According to the statement, Matawalle, who is currently in Saudi Arabia overseeing arrangements for the pilgrimage, assured intending pilgrims that the state had not encountered any challenges in processing their visas.
He urged pilgrims and the general public to disregard rumours suggesting delays or complications with the issuance of Hajj visas for pilgrims from Kano.
The statement also warned against spreading unverified information, fake online links or misleading messages that could cause confusion among pilgrims and their families.
Officials of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board are already in Saudi Arabia to finalise logistics and welfare arrangements ahead of the commencement of the pilgrimage. The board assured registered pilgrims that adequate preparations are underway to ensure their safety, welfare and proper coordination throughout the Hajj exercise.
Matawalle also revealed that the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for intending pilgrims is currently being processed and will be released in due course.
The reassurance from Kano authorities comes amid rising uncertainty among Nigerian pilgrims and travel operators following disruptions to international flights caused by escalating tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
Several Middle Eastern countries, including Iran, Iraq, Israel, Syria, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, have partially closed their airspace following military strikes on Iranian targets by the United States and Israel, raising security concerns across the region.
The situation has forced several international airlines to suspend or cancel flights on affected routes. However, Saudi Arabia’s national carrier, Saudia, has continued flight operations as the country has not officially closed its airspace.
Some Nigerian travellers have already been affected by the disruptions. An intending Umrah pilgrim, Auwal Sani, said his planned trip from Kano was cancelled after his flight with Qatar Airways was suspended.
Another traveller, Salihu Shu’aibu, said the instability in the region had made him reconsider his journey, while Bilkisu said she had decided to postpone her pilgrimage until next year due to safety concerns.
In Ilorin, an intending traveller, Ola Abdul, also said the geopolitical tensions had complicated his preparations for the religious trip.
Despite the concerns, Kano authorities maintain that preparations for the 2026 Hajj are progressing smoothly and that all registered pilgrims from the state will receive the necessary support throughout the pilgrimage.
