Nigerians living outside Saudi intending to perform this year’s hajj will have to shelve the idea as Saudi Arabian government has said only those residing in the country will be allowed to perform the pilgrimage due to COVID-19.
For the second year non-Saudi residents will be missing the hajj.
In June 2020, the Saudi Arabia government had announced that only those residing in the country will be allowed to perform in hajj due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As of Saturday, June 12, Saudi Arabia has recorded 463,703 COVID-19 infections with 7,537 deaths and 10,112 active cases, according to data collected from worldometres.
The Saudi government says this year’s exercise will be restricted to only residents.
“In the light of what the world is witnessing with the continuing developments of the pandemic Covid-19, and the emergence of new variations, Hajj 1442 will be limited to the residents and citizens from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ONLY ” the statement reads.
According to the statement, only 60,000 residents of the kingdom will be allowed to observe the Haji.
Residents who wish to register for the Islamic pilgrimage must be vaccinated against COVID-19, at least one dose of the vaccine.
The statement noted that the decision was taken in light of the “continuing developments of the pandemic Covid-19, and the emergence of new variations.”
“In the light of what the world is witnessing with the continuing developments of the pandemic Covid-19, and the emergence of new variations, Hajj 1442 will be limited to the residents and citizens from within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ONLY – (60,000),” the statement said.
“The total number of pilgrims this year is limited to only 60,000 people, for residents of all nationalities and citizens inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“The health status of those wishing to register for Hajj 1442 must be from the following categories: a vaccinated person, a vaccinated person who has completed one dose and spent 14 days, or a vaccinated person recovering from infection.”