The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has expressed excitement over the direct Jeddah-Abuja service scheduled to commence on December 1, 2026.
Speaking at a dinner to mark Saudi Arabia’s 96th National Day celebration in Abuja on Wednesday night, the Speaker proposed an annual parliamentary dialogue with the Saudi Shura Council, noting that this would strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.
While congratulating the Kingdom, Speaker Tajudeen affirmed the strategic relationship between the two countries and made practical requests on mobility, education, pilgrimage and investment.
He noted that Nigeria and Saudi Arabia share long-established ties based on faith, friendship, commerce and culture. “We also cooperate through the United Nations, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and OPEC,” he added.
Noting that Nigeria is home to Africa’s largest Muslim population and the world’s fifth-largest, after Indonesia, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, the Speaker stated that this gives the relationship “special human and spiritual importance.”
He said: “We welcome Saudia’s proposed direct Jeddah-Abuja service from December 1, 2026. The published schedule provides for three weekly flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.
“We encourage the early confirmation and expansion of passenger services to Lagos, competitive fares and stronger cargo links.”
He said: “We propose an annual parliamentary dialogue, reciprocal committee visits and a joint work plan covering investment, education and aviation.”
Speaker Tajudeen stressed that the Nigeria-Saudi Parliamentary Friendship Group, which he constituted after his emergence, should become a stronger channel between the House and the Saudi Shura Council.
“The Group should also convene business and academic roundtables and maintain a simple tracker to follow bilateral agreements from commitment to implementation.”
He added: “We must turn air links into trade, scholarships into shared knowledge and diplomatic goodwill into lasting development. I wish the Kingdom continued peace, progress and prosperity.”
The Speaker also called on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to reciprocate Nigeria’s visa-on-arrival policy for certain categories of Nigerians. The request for such consideration covers Nigerian investors, academics, business travellers, diplomatic passport holders, among others.
Speaker Tajudeen said Nigeria appreciated the scholarships offered to Nigerian students and the recent opportunity extended through his office.
“We respectfully request more places in medicine, engineering, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, agriculture and mining. The programme could also support postgraduate research and partnerships between Nigerian and Saudi universities, with fair access for women and disadvantaged students,” he said.
While commending the improved efficiency of the 2026 Hajj, he noted that Nigeria completed 98 outbound flights within 18 days, meeting the Saudi deadline.
He said: “We should build on this through earlier planning, clearer pricing, better digital coordination and stronger medical and consular support. A permanent Nigeria-Saudi operations platform could connect aviation, immigration, health, accommodation and pilgrim welfare.”