The Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency says it will refund $50 each, to 700 pilgrims who paid for animal sacrifice while in Nigeria, through the agency in the just concluded 2024 hajj.
Retired AVM Muhammad Dabo, Chairman of the Hadaya Committee, stated this in a statement signed by the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Yunusa Abdullahi in Kaduna on Thursday.
Mr Dabo, who is also a Board member of the agency, explained that the refund followed a downward price review from the company engaged to slaughter the rams for the pilgrims in Makkah.
He said that 1,357 pilgrims paid through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, out of which only 700 pilgrims, who paid in Nigeria were eligible for the refund.
He explained that slaughtering of animals also known as Hadaya was an important component of Hajj rites, because pilgrims were expected to slaughter rams individually or contribute to buy a camel for slaughter.
He said that a company was engaged to procure and slaughter the rams on behalf of the pilgrims because they were often short-changed.
The committee chairman said that the first company insisted on 500 Riyals per ram, which amounted to about N200,000, equivalent to $150.
“We argued that given the shortfall of the Basic Travelling Allowance given to pilgrims, which is $400 because of exchange rate that CBN applied, he should review the price to 300 Riyals.
“Finally, an Islamic Development Bank-accredited company agreed to collect 375 Riyals per animal.
“The committee members did not just allow the companies to procure the rams and slaughter, but we went to the slaughtering house to see each ram ourselves before they were slaughtered.
“With the review, pilgrims that paid for their Hadaya through the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency in Nigeria would get a refund of about $50 each,” he said.
He said that the eligible pilgrims would either be paid in Saudi Arabia or Nigeria, depending on their preferences.
Mr Dabo advised the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, to include the cost of Hadaya in the total Hajj package to protect pilgrims from unscrupulous elements.
NAN
