The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has cautioned prospective pilgrims on five per cent Value Added Tax introduced by Saudi Arabian government on goods and services during the 2018 Hajj operations.
Alhaji Abdullahi Saleh, Commissioner in charge of Operations, gave the caution on Thursday in Katsina during an enlightenment programme on the 2018 hajj.
He said it was part of the new policies introduced by Saudi Arabia during the 2018 hajj.
Saleh said: “For instance, if you buy 100 Saudi Riyals recharge card, five SR will go to the Saudi Arabian Kingdom, you will be left with 95 SR, likewise on other goods and services.”
Saleh said that pilgrims should also conduct biometric data capturing before going to the holy land for Hajj.
He, however, explained that the capturing would be conducted only in Abuja, Lagos and Kano states.
He said: “We have already written to the Saudi Arabian authority to decentralise the exercise so as to ease the hardships people could encounter.’’
He said that March 31 was the deadline for collecting deposits from prospective pilgrims before the final announcement of the fares.
According to him, such pilgrims were expected to deposit N1.5 million in line with directives given by Saudi Arabia.
He also advised them against traveling with prohibited items like kola-nut and other drugs to the Holy land.
Saleh said that second timers for hajj and lesser hajj (Umrah) were also expected to pay additional 2,000 Saudi Riyals.
He said that only 32 kilogrammes of luggage would be allowed per pilgrim and 8 kilogrammes of hand bag.
The commissioner, therefore, urged religious scholars to intensify efforts toward enlightening prospective pilgrims on the new policies, rules and regulations governing the conduct of the Hajj.
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