Hajj: We Disbursed N76 Million to Kaduna Pilgrims — Chairman

The Executive Chairman of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Malam Salihu S. Abubakar, has announced that a total of ₦76 million was generated from foreign exchange differences in pilgrims’ Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) and has been fully distributed to Kaduna pilgrims.

According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Uba Sani, Malam Ibraheem Musa, the chairman made the clarification during an interview with select broadcast journalists in Makkah on Thursday.

He explained that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) initially pegged the $500 BTA at ₦1,143 per dollar, amounting to ₦721,500 per pilgrim. However, by the time pilgrims were airlifted, the naira had appreciated, with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) exchanging at about ₦1,350.74 per dollar.

This change reduced the naira equivalent of the $500 BTA to about ₦675,370 per pilgrim, creating a difference of ₦46,130 per pilgrim, which accumulated to ₦76 million in total.

Malam Salihu said each pilgrim received a refund equivalent to 123 Saudi Riyals, stressing that the funds rightly belonged to the pilgrims and not the agency, as they resulted from exchange rate differences.

He dismissed arguments that the money should have been retained by the agency for operational use, insisting transparency required that it be returned to the pilgrims.

The chairman also praised Governor Uba Sani for supporting the agency’s operations and commended pilgrims for their cooperation.

He further announced that the airlift of Kaduna pilgrims back to Nigeria would begin on June 15, following the same sequence used during their departure.

He warned pilgrims against excess luggage, stating that each is allowed two 23-kilogram bags and one hand luggage not exceeding eight kilograms, and advised compliance to avoid delays during return travel.