Nigeria, June 3 -- Over 2,000 Nigerian intending pilgrims will not participate in the 2025 Hajj due to the failure of the Saudi authorities to reopen the visa portal for registration.

The Commission's spokesperson, Fatima Usara, disclosed this in a statement on Monday.

Describing the situation as unfortunate, the Commission's spokesperson said it unsuccessfully tried to get the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to consider reopening the visa portal even for an hour.

She said that following the portal's closure, 2,717 Nigerians would not participate in the holy exercise.

"From the beginning of Hajj registration to date, NAHCON facilitated extension of deadlines four times, beginning with Hajj fare remittance to visa issuance. Yet, despi...