Saudi Arabia Imposes N163,000 Levy On Frequent Nigerian Pilgrims
Saudi Arbaian authorities have imposed a compulsory levy equivalent of N163,000 on all prospective Nigerian pilgrims, who have performed Hajj or Umrah in the last two years.
The Saudi Arabian authorities also introduced a five per cent Value Added Tax on all services, excluding food items and medical drugs.
Mr. Abdullahi Mukhtar, the Chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), disclosed that all Prospective Nigerian pilgrims all affected prospective pilgrims would have to pay the compulsory levy.
This the Chairman said the pilgrims are to pay SR2000, an equivalent to N163,000, which was exclusive of the substantive fare for the 2018 Hajj that is yet to be announced by the federal government.
Mukhtar made the disclosure in Sokoto on Saturday at a sensitization campaign organized by the Commission for prospective pilgrims and officials of the Pilgrims Welfare Agencies (PWA), from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara States.
According to him the levy was announced by the Saudi Arabian Hajj Ministry and it became fully effective during the 2017 Hajj exercise. The Chairman, who was represented by the National Commissioner in Charge of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Sale, said that the campaign was organized to intimate the nation’s prospective pilgrims.
