Pilgrims who overstay umrah risk 6 month imprisonment – Official

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has advised Umrah pilgrims to ensure that they do not overstay their visa expiry date or risk imprisonment.
The Commission also calls on “its clients with complaints to contact its officials on these phone numbers: +234803 733 4415or +234806 760 0401. Or contact this team at NAHCON Head Office in Umm Jood District, Makkah”
In a statement by NAHCON Head of Public Affairs, Fatima Sanda Usara, “it is pertinent to note that such an overstay carries with it multiple penalties- arrest, detention, six months imprisonment, a fine of 50,000 Saudi Riyals and deportation.
“Similarly, for service providers/tour operators who fail to report visa violators to necessary authorities or aid overstaying of umrah pilgrims in the holy city, they risk a fine of 100,000 Saudi Riyals per violator.
While NAHCON called upon umrah pilgrims to abide by the regulations of the Saudi Arabian authorities, it also urged them to remain good ambassadors of the country.
The commission reiterated its commitment to safeguarding the rights of all umrah pilgrims as well as those of licensed service operators; adding that it is determined to ensure
that service providers meet their obligations to their clients.
“As part of its supervisory duties, NAHCON has since dispatched a team of its staff to Makkah to monitor, evaluate, take necessary action and report on umrah activities of pilgrims as well as licensed serviceproviders.
“However, NAHCON would like to enjoin all Umrah pilgrims to, henceforth, verify and determine the package they are paying touroperators/service providers for even before embarking on the journey,” Usara said.