Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations through increased investment, trade, tourism and diaspora engagement, as government officials, diplomats, investors and business leaders gathered for the Second Nigeria-Saudi Diaspora Investment and Tourism Exhibition Summit in Abuja.
The two-day exhibition, held at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, was organised by Al-Yaro International Limited in collaboration with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The event brought together stakeholders from both countries to explore opportunities in trade, investment, tourism, Hajj and Umrah services, agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, logistics and other sectors aimed at deepening economic cooperation.
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Representing the Vice President, his Special Assistant on Export Expansion, Aliyu Sheriff, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening economic relations between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through increased investment, trade and the development of the global halal economy.
He described the exhibition as a timely platform for strengthening diaspora-led economic partnerships, promoting export diversification and advancing the private sector-driven economic growth agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration.
He said Nigeria is positioning itself as a gateway to Africa by leveraging the opportunities offered by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Diaspora-led bridges are very important in connecting buyers and sellers. It is quite impressive to see Saudi investors come to Nigeria to see what we have, while also presenting what they have. We will do everything we can to ensure these linkages are sustained,” he stated.
Sheriff said the Federal Government is implementing a national Halal Economy Strategy aimed at positioning Nigeria as Africa’s leading hub in the global halal market, covering agriculture, livestock, food processing, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, logistics and Islamic finance.
He noted that the government is strengthening regulatory standards, certification systems, financing mechanisms and infrastructure to attract investors, while assuring businesses of support through relevant ministries, departments and agencies.
He also commended NiDCOM and Al-Yaro International Limited for promoting people-to-people diplomacy and commercial partnerships, expressing confidence that the exhibition would result in concrete investments and long-term economic cooperation between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia.
“Nigeria is already working on a strategy for the halal economy. We need to tap into the global halal market, take advantage of AfCFTA and maximise the 1.3 billion consumers that we have so Nigeria can serve as a gateway to Africa and beyond,” he disclosed.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, commended the NiDCOM Chairman/CEO for her commitment to promoting the welfare of Nigerians abroad and deepening diaspora engagement.
He also praised Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Yousef Al-Balawi, for strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly through educational and scholarship initiatives.
“Across the world, Nigerians are making remarkable contributions in business, healthcare, technology, education and public service. Their achievements continue to strengthen Nigeria’s global reputation and open new doors for economic cooperation,” the Minister said.
He noted that the Nigeria-Saudi relationship has expanded beyond religious pilgrimages to include trade, investment, energy, agriculture, mining, aviation and tourism.
“Beyond our long-standing religious and cultural ties, both countries are expanding our cooperation in trade, investment, energy, agriculture, mining, aviation and tourism,” he revealed.
Speaking after touring the exhibition, NiDCOM Chairman/CEO, Dr. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, described the exhibition as clear evidence that Nigeria is open for business. She said Nigerians living in Saudi Arabia were instrumental in bringing Saudi companies to Nigeria to explore investment opportunities and establish industries.
“Nigeria is open for business. And what makes this even more important is that it is being put together by Nigerians in the diaspora. They brought these companies from Saudi Arabia to say, ‘Come to Nigeria and see what we have here,'” She emphasised.
Dabiri-Erewa said both countries are working to change misconceptions that have limited economic cooperation, adding that recent policy changes have opened new opportunities for Nigerian products to enter the Saudi market. She commended the Al-Yaro brothers for championing the initiative and reaffirmed NiDCOM’s commitment to supporting diaspora-driven investments.
“Both countries want to deal with those misconceptions and say, together, we can do a lot of business that goes beyond what we normally see,” she noted.
Representing the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Ambassador Ismail Yusuf, Special Assistant (Technical), Ishaq Jae, said the Commission is implementing major reforms to transform Nigeria’s Hajj and Umrah industry from a regulatory system into an investment-driven ecosystem aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030.
He disclosed that NAHCON successfully completed 100 per cent visa processing before the commencement of the 2026 Hajj airlift, marking a significant operational milestone.
“For the first time in many years, we were able to complete all visa processing before the first flight departed. In the past, delayed visa issuance often affected airlift operations, but that is gradually becoming a thing of the past.”
Jae said although some operational challenges were recorded during the 2026 Hajj, including gaps in accommodation, transportation and catering services, the Commission has developed nine reform work streams to strengthen institutional capacity, improve digital service delivery and encourage greater private sector participation.
“The Hajj Commission intends to move from being just a regulator to becoming an enabler of businesses. Our goal is to create an environment where stakeholders can thrive while maintaining high standards of service delivery for Nigerian pilgrims,” he noted.
Participants at the exhibition expressed optimism that stronger collaboration between Nigeria and Saudi Arabia, particularly in investment, tourism, Hajj and Umrah services, would unlock new business opportunities, promote knowledge exchange and further deepen the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries.
