Several Nigerian pilgrims were stranded for over two days at the King Abdulaziz International Airport (KAIA), Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, amid allegations of neglect and breach of contract by Raudah Travels and Tours Limited, the agency that facilitated their Umrah trip.
Affected pilgrims told Hajj Gazette that they were repeatedly brought to the airport on the assurance that their return flight to Nigeria was ready, only to be denied boarding without any formal explanation.
According to them, the situation deteriorated to the point where airport authorities had to open a mosque to provide temporary shelter for stranded women among the group.
One of the pilgrims recounted that they were left without accommodation until they protested, after which the travel agency arranged lodging.
However, the ordeal reportedly continued the following day when the pilgrims were again taken to the airport between 8:00 and 9:00 a.m. and left waiting until nearly 5:00 p.m. without clarity on their travel status.
“The agency betrayed our trust. Calls to the agent in charge of our travel were repeatedly rejected. As we speak, we do not even know our stand,” the pilgrim said, adding that he paid N2.6 million each for himself and his mother, amounting to N5.2 million.
He accused the agency of failing to honour its contractual obligations after bringing them to Saudi Arabia.
When contacted, a representative of Raudah Travels and Tours Limited acknowledged that the delay originated from their end but attributed it to issues with the airline handling the return flight.
Meanwhile, the Association of Umrah and Hajj Operators of Nigeria (AHUON), Northern Zone, assumed responsibility for the disruption, attributing it to changes in flight schedule and aircraft capacity.
The Assistant Secretary of AHUON, Isyaku Hamza, explained to Hajj Gazette that the initial flight scheduled to convey the pilgrims back to Nigeria could not accommodate all passengers due to a reduction in flight capacity, resulting in 25 pilgrims being left behind.
Hamza stated that the situation had since been resolved, disclosing that Ethiopian Airlines had been contracted to transport the affected pilgrims back to Nigeria later on Wednesday. He assured that the pilgrims are currently lodged in a hotel and that all necessary travel arrangements have been concluded.
“Our agent is there with them and doing the needful. They will be transported back home today, In Sha Allah,” Hamza said.
The incident has reignited concerns over operational efficiency and accountability among Umrah and Hajj travel operators, particularly in managing contingencies related to flight logistics and pilgrim welfare.
Hajj Gazette