Omotayo Adigun
In a big coverage reversal, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has accepted the disbursement of Fundamental Journey Allowance (BTA) in money for the 2025 Hajj pilgrims, abandoning its earlier plan to mandate using debit playing cards.
This determination follows a direct intervention by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on behalf of the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria (NAHCON) and the pilgrims.
The Vice President’s enchantment highlighted the sensible difficulties a card-only coverage would impose on the predominantly rural and financially less-literate Nigerian pilgrims.
NAHCON’s Commissioner for Coverage, Personnel Administration & Finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, confirmed the CBN’s determination after a gathering with the Vice President, stating that the CBN had granted pilgrims the choice of money transactions for the upcoming Hajj.
Abdulrazaq defined that the assembly was convened to handle the CBN’s preliminary coverage requiring pilgrims to make use of debit playing cards for his or her BTA.
He acknowledged, “Out of the magnanimity of the CBN and enchantment made by the Vice President, they dropped the concept of a card for pilgrims within the 2025 Hajj, they usually conceded to individuals having money as an alternative of a card. It is a landmark achievement for NAHCON.”
He additional detailed the logistical challenges pilgrims would face in Saudi Arabia with a card-only system, noting the restricted availability of ATMs in pilgrimage areas and the digital literacy boundaries confronted by the vast majority of Nigerian pilgrims, who are sometimes peasant farmers.
“In case you go to Saudi Arabia, largely the areas the place the pilgrims are going to carry out their rituals, there is just one Automated Teller Machine there, and it’s at all times crowded – it poses a lot difficulties for pilgrims to buy no matter they need to buy. Secondly, 95 per cent of the pilgrims from Nigeria are peasant farmers, they usually have difficulties with digital funds. Even with the money, a few of them have difficulties figuring out the currencies. These variables make it essential for them to have the money they’re used to.”
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Abdulrazaq expressed confidence that this determination would considerably streamline Hajj operations for Nigerian pilgrims.
“Any more, we’re much more assured that the Hajj operations will likely be very seamless for the pilgrims. All preparations have been in prime gear, however the BTA was our concern; at this time, the concern has now been addressed.”
NAHCON’s Secretary, Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Ali, clarified that the CBN’s determination was not a concession or subsidy from the federal government however a sensible adjustment to the fee technique.
“There’s a want for clarification we need to make. It’s not a concession or intervention by the federal authorities. It’s not a subsidy both. The Vice President intervened as a result of many of the pilgrims make purchases within the streets of Mecca or Medina, and they don’t want debit playing cards to make their purchases. Now it’s allowed for them to hold money. The CBN will present the money on the market price,” he mentioned.
The Director of Human Sources on the CBN and Board member representing the CBN in NAHCON, Abba Muhammad Aliyu, defined that the CBN’s determination was based mostly on the Nigerian authorities’s concern for the welfare of the pilgrims.
“Wanting on the {financial} literacy of the pilgrims, there’s a want for us to see that we make life simple for them as a result of plenty of them have no idea function the ATM. So, these are a number of the causes the senior administration of the {Bank}, in their very own magnanimity upon the decision of the Vice President, checked out these points.”
Aliyu reiterated that the change was purely a modification of the fee technique, changing playing cards with money, and never a concession.
