Anyone going for Hajj or Umrah for the second or more times in the last two years will now have to pay a N163,000 compulsory levy imposed by Saudi authorities.
The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission (NAHCON), Mr. Abdullahi Mukhtar, disclosed that all prospective Nigerian pilgrims affected would have to pay the compulsory levy.
He said the pilgrims are to pay SR2000, equivalent to N163,000, which was exclusive of the substantive fare for the 2018 Hajj which has yet to be announced by the federal government.
Mukhtar said this at a sensitisation programme for prospective pilgrims from Sokoto, Kebbi and Zamfara states.
The chairman, who was represented by the National Commissioner in Charge of Operations, Alhaji Abdullahi Sale, added that Saudi authorities have also imposed a 5 percent tax on every service, excluding food items and medical service.
He disclosed that the new levies, which was announced by the Saudi hajj ministry, became active during the 2017 hajj programme.