In a major relief for over 40,000 Nigerian intending pilgrims, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved cash-based Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for the 2025 Hajj, scrapping the earlier proposed mandatory debit card policy. This decision follows a passionate intervention by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The Central Bank of Nigeria has officially granted approval for intending Nigerian pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj to access their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) in cash. This comes after Vice-President Kashim Shettima’s direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu, acting on behalf of over 40,000 pilgrims, via the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Aliu Abdulrazaq, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, announced the development to newsmen after a high-level meeting at the State House in Abuja. According to him, the Federal Government had initially introduced a policy mandating debit card usage for BTA disbursement, but this has now been reversed due to Shettima’s intervention.
“The Vice-President invited the Deputy Governor of the CBN and pleaded on behalf of the pilgrims. Out of respect and concern, the CBN agreed to allow cash-based transactions for this year’s pilgrimage,” Abdulrazaq explained.
He highlighted key challenges faced by pilgrims with the card-based system, particularly due to limited access to Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) in Saudi Arabia’s pilgrimage zones. “There’s only one ATM around the ritual grounds, and it’s always overcrowded. Many of our pilgrims are peasant farmers unfamiliar with electronic transactions. Some even struggle with foreign currency identification,” he added.
The new approval aims to ensure a smoother and less stressful experience for pilgrims, allowing them to make transactions with ease throughout the holy journey.
Also commenting, NAHCON Secretary Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Ali clarified that the decision was not a form of subsidy or concession by the Federal Government. “It’s simply a change in the payment method. The CBN will provide the cash at market rates. The Vice-President only stepped in to protect the interest of pilgrims who rely on physical cash to make purchases in Saudi Arabia,” he noted.
From the CBN’s side, Abba Muhammad Aliyu, Director of Human Resources and Board member representing the apex bank in NAHCON, stated that the bank’s leadership approved the request after carefully considering the pilgrims’ financial literacy levels. “The goal is to make their journey easier. Most of them are not used to operating ATMs or managing electronic payments,” he stated.
This decision reverses an earlier directive that had made it mandatory for all intending pilgrims to open bank accounts tied to their BTA, where debit cards would be issued for their use abroad.
Pilgrims and Hajj tour operators had expressed concern over the card-only policy, arguing that it would create undue hardship and jeopardize the smooth execution of the 2025 Hajj operations.
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