By Fadhlillah Abdallah el-Kurebe
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) says intending Nigerian pilgrims will likely pay N2.5 million, an increase of over 50 per cent from what obtained in 2019.
The chairman of the commission, Zikrullah Hassan disclosed this projection during a meeting with executives of the state pilgrims boards, in preparation for this year’s 2022 Hajj in Abuja on Thursday.
In 2019, intending pilgrims paid N1.5m and those who deposited the same sum in 2020, but could not travel because OF the outbreak of COVID-19, will now pay the the difference of N1 million.
“The projection is on the increase because as of 2019, the exchange rate for hajj was N306 but now it will be at N410 to a dollar. We all know that Hajj is 97 per cent by foreign exchange for food airlines and others.
“Also, Saudi Arabia has increased their VAT from 5 per cent to 15 per cent. What they also said is that they have made a massive investment in Mina and Arafa,” Hassan said.
COVID-19 vaccination
According to him, the intending pilgrims would be required to be fully vaccinated with a booster shot, saying that a PCR test is also a must.
On how the exchange would be conducted with backlog of payment already made, he said selection would be made based on a first-come-first-serve basis with a sharing formula of 40 per cent for the regular Hajj and 60 per cent for those on Hajj Savings Scheme.
He added that out of 43,008 slots allocated to Nigeria, 33,976 would go to states while 9,032 would be allocated to private tour operators.
