2026 Hajj: Kaduna Pilgrims to Receive 123 Riyals Refund, Agency Announces
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has announced a refund of 123 Saudi Riyals to each pilgrim from the state who participated in the 2026 Hajj, following savings realized from foreign exchange rate adjustments during the payment of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).
Ibrahim Datti, Public Relations Officer of the agency disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
The Executive Chairman of the Agency, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, disclosed this on Sunday shortly after the Zuhr prayer at the Kaduna pilgrims’ accommodation mosque in Makkah.
According to him, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had initially directed intending pilgrims to pay for their $500 Basic Travel Allowance at an exchange rate of N1,443 per dollar, amounting to N721,500 per pilgrim.
However, before the departure of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) supplied the BTA at a lower exchange rate of N1,350.74 per dollar, bringing the cost of the same $500 allowance to N675,370.
Malam Salihu explained that the difference of N46,130 per pilgrim created a refund balance, which the agency converted using an exchange rate of N375 per Saudi Riyal.
This resulted in a refund of approximately 123 Saudi Riyals for each pilgrim, with a remaining balance of N5.
He stated that all Kaduna State pilgrims would receive the 123 Saudi Riyals while in Saudi Arabia, while the outstanding N5 would be paid in Nigeria upon their return for those interested in collecting it.
The chairman further announced that the refund distribution exercise would commence at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at the Kaduna State pilgrims’ accommodation in Saudi Arabia.
The development is expected to provide modest financial relief to pilgrims as they conclude their Hajj rites and prepare for their return journey to Nigeria.
