Kaduna Agency Explains Source of 123 Riyal Refund to Pilgrims
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency has clarified the source of the 123 Saudi Riyals refunded to each pilgrim from the state, explaining that the funds originated from exchange rate gains recorded during the processing of the 2026 Hajj Basic Travel Allowance (BTA).
Chairman of the Agency, Malam Salihu Abubakar, gave the explanation during an interview in Makkah following the commencement of the refund exercise for Kaduna pilgrims.
According to him, every Nigerian pilgrim received a Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) of $500 for the 2026 Hajj. NAHCON initially calculated the allowance at an exchange rate of N1,443 to the dollar, requiring each pilgrim to pay approximately N721,500.
However, he said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) later converted the funds at a lower exchange rate of about N1,350.74 per dollar, reducing the actual cost of the $500 allowance and leaving a balance of roughly N46,000 per pilgrim.
Abubakar explained that the agency converted the surplus into Saudi Riyals rather than refunding it in Naira.
At an exchange rate of about N375 per Riyal, each pilgrim became entitled to approximately 123 Saudi Riyals.
He stressed that the refund was not an additional government intervention but money that rightfully belonged to the pilgrims.
The chairman noted that the agency decided to distribute the funds while pilgrims remain in Saudi Arabia to ensure prompt disbursement and avoid the challenges of tracking beneficiaries after their return to Nigeria.
He also revealed that the refund exercise is being conducted according to flight batches.
So far, all 428 pilgrims on Kaduna State’s first flight and 340 pilgrims on the second flight have received their refunds.
The exercise will continue across the state’s remaining return flights until all pilgrims receive their entitlements, he said.
Several beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the agency for returning the funds. Many said they were unaware that a balance remained from their travel allowance payments and described the refund as a welcome gesture as they prepare for their journey home after completing the 2026 Hajj rites.
