The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the use of cash for Basic Travel Allowance for Nigerian pilgrims attending the 2025 Hajj, reversing its earlier plan to mandate card-based transactions.
The decision was made following the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who appealed to President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria and over 40,000 intending pilgrims.
NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management and Finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, confirmed the development during a press briefing in Abuja.
“The Federal Government had earlier introduced a card-based BTA system, which posed serious challenges for our pilgrims. Thanks to the intervention of the vice president and the cooperation of the CBN, we’ve now secured approval to revert to a cash-based system. This is a landmark achievement,” Abdulrazaq said.
He explained that the new system will make transactions easier for pilgrims, most of whom are from rural communities and have limited knowledge of digital banking.
“In many parts of Saudi Arabia where the pilgrimage rites are performed, access to ATMs is extremely limited. Also, 95 per cent of Nigerian pilgrims are peasant farmers unfamiliar with electronic payment systems. Even with cash, many still struggle with identifying foreign currency,” he added.
NAHCON Secretary, Dr Mustapha Muhammad Ali, also clarified that the decision was not a government subsidy or concession.
“This isn’t a subsidy or special intervention. It’s simply a shift in the mode of payment. Most pilgrims shop in the streets of Mecca and Medina, where digital payments are not common. With this change, pilgrims can now carry cash, which the CBN will provide at the official market rate,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the CBN, its Director of Human Resources and board member in NAHCON, Abba Muhammad Aliyu, said the bank’s leadership agreed to the change in recognition of the pilgrims’ needs.
“Our concern is the welfare of the pilgrims. Many do not have the literacy or digital skills to use ATMs or payment cards. That’s why, after evaluating the challenges and listening to the vice president, the CBN opted for a more practical approach,” he noted.
The CBN had earlier introduced a mandatory card-based BTA system, requiring each pilgrim to open a BTA-linked bank account for transactions in Saudi Arabia. The reversal has been hailed by NAHCON as a major relief in the 2025 Hajj preparations.
