CSO asks CBN to scrap 2% charge on hajj pilgrims’ payments

The Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a faith-based civil society organisation, has asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to abolish the two percent charge paid by intending pilgrims from Nigeria.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Ibrahim Mohammed, national coordinator of IHR, said the deduction by the apex bank — which amounts to about $90 (N144,000) per pilgrim based on the N1,600 exchange rate used by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) — has contributed to the rising cost of hajj in the country.

Mohammed said Saudi Arabia allocates 95,000 slots to Nigeria for the annual pilgrimage, noting that if the quota is fully utilised, the CBN generates about $8.55 million (N13.68 billion) yearly from hajj-related payments by Nigerians.

He said the apex bank should scrap the charge to ease the financial burden on intending pilgrims, following widespread public concern over the high cost of hajj.

“The CBN should abolish the revenue it collects simply for transferring Hajj payments to NAHCON’s IBAN account in Saudi Arabia,” Mohammed said.

He explained that while the organisation does not consider the payment illegal, the CBN could waive it “as their contribution to the reduction of Hajj fare in the country”.

According to him, Nigerian pilgrims are already paying multiple service charges to various government agencies, a situation that has “jerked up the overall cost of the Hajj fare.”

“It should be noted that NAHCON has been funding its operations since 2019, relying on its service charge and relieving the government of Hajj operational costs,” he said.

“Such self-reliance measure needs to be supported by other government institutions to guarantee seamless and efficient services for Nigerian pilgrims.”

Mohammed said the group’s call aligns with similar appeals by other hajj stakeholders urging the CBN to waive the payments.