Eshiorameh Sebastian, Abuja
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has granted approval for Nigerian pilgrims to receive their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) in cash for the 2025 Hajj, following an intervention by Vice President Kashim Shettima.
The decision has reversed an earlier policy mandating the use of debit cards for transactions during the pilgrimage, a move that had raised concerns among intending pilgrims and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
The resolution was confirmed on Wednesday after a meeting between the Vice President, NAHCON officials, and representatives of the CBN. The development comes as a relief to thousands of Nigerian pilgrims, many of whom are rural farmers with limited familiarity with electronic payment systems.
NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, disclosed that the Vice President personally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on behalf of the pilgrims, prompting the CBN to reconsider its stance.
“Out of the magnanimity of the CBN and the appeal made by the Vice President, they dropped the idea of a card for pilgrims in the 2025 Hajj and conceded to people having cash instead,” Abdulrazaq stated. He described the decision as a “landmark achievement” for NAHCON, ensuring smoother operations for the pilgrimage.
The commissioner highlighted the practical challenges pilgrims face in Saudi Arabia, including limited access to ATMs in holy sites and difficulties in navigating electronic payments. “95 per cent of the pilgrims from Nigeria are peasant farmers, and they struggle with electronic payments. Even with cash, some have difficulties identifying foreign currencies,” he explained.
Earlier this year, the CBN introduced a new BTA payment method requiring each pilgrim to open a bank account linked to an ATM card for transactions in Saudi Arabia. However, stakeholders argued that the policy would create unnecessary hurdles, particularly for elderly and rural pilgrims unfamiliar with digital banking.
NAHCON’s Secretary, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Ali, clarified that the cash approval was not a federal government subsidy or concession but a pragmatic adjustment to ease pilgrims’ experiences. “Most pilgrims make purchases in the streets of Mecca or Medina, where cards are not widely accepted. The CBN will provide cash at the market rate,” he said.
Abba Muhammad Aliyu, the CBN’s Director of Human Resources and NAHCON board member, stated that the apex bank’s decision was driven by the need to prioritise pilgrims’ welfare. “Many do not know how to operate ATMs. The senior management of the bank, upon the Vice President’s appeal, considered these challenges,” he said.
He further emphasised that the policy shift was purely about the payment method and not a return to currency concessions, which the government had discontinued.
With the BTA issue resolved, NAHCON expressed confidence that the 2025 Hajj would proceed without hitches. “All arrangements have been in top gear, but the BTA was our fear. Today, that fear has been addressed,” Abdulrazaq affirmed.
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