Saudi Arabia’s government has removed the limit on the number of pilgrims for this year’s Hajj for Nigeria and other countries.
According to an Arab News report, this was announced by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, on Monday, January 9, 2023.
Speaking at the Hajj Expo 2023, Al-Rabiah said the number of pilgrims participating in the 2023 Hajj would return to what obtained pre-pandemic, and there would be no age limit for Hajj pilgrims this year.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also tweeted, “During the opening of #Hajj_Expo 2023, H.E. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dr. Tawfiq AlRabiah announces: ‘Number of Hajj pilgrims in 1444H will return to how it was before the Coronavirus pandemic without age restrictions’.”
According to a report by Arab News, about 2.5 million people took part in the pilgrimage in 2019. The number was, however, reduced for the following two years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.