The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it can only provide the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for the 2025 intending Hajj pilgrims in a payment card due to its policy on issuance of BTAs.
But the CBN advised Nigerian Hajj authorities to also source for the dollar from the parallel market as the apex bank does not have dollar in cash reserves for pilgrimages.
A highly placed source in the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) informed HAJJ REPORTERS that the issue of replacing the traditional BTA in cash with payment cards will create a serious problem for the 2025 Hajj pilgrims.
“We have met with the CBN on this issue and they told us that it is a policy that cannot be waved aside for any institution as that will create a floodgate for others. They told us to either accept the card option or source for dollars in the parallel market and you know what that means,” said the credible source.
The source expressed fear that “unless an urgent measure is adopted, 2025 Hajj pilgrims may have difficulties in making use of their BTA because there is no way we can get Saudi Riyals equivalent of $500 to be disbursed to pilgrims between now and May 6, 2025, when the first flight is scheduled to take off.
“Please we need you people to help begin a sensitisation campaign on the BTA before it becomes a serious operational problem when airlift begins,” the source appealed.
HAJJ REPORTERS learnt that NAHCON had earlier pleaded with the CBN to suspend issuance of BTA on credit cards due to its associated peculiar challenges.
“Over 60 to 70 percent of Nigerian pilgrims are from rural areas and there are few numbers of ATM card machines in Makkah where pilgrims can make withdrawals.
”In addition, there may be on card charges embedded in the card that will further reduce the $500 provided in the 2025 Hajj fare for BTA.”
Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR) had earlier called on the CBN to waive the policy, saying such will create unprecedented hardship and confusion in the Hajj ecosystem in Nigeria.
The group was at the forefront of the same campaign against the use of ATM cards to pay pilgrims their BTA during last year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
“We advise the CBN to exclude Hajj pilgrims from this policy because of the foreseen hardship to be faced by our pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia,” it stated.
Before the commencement of the 2024 Hajj airlift, the apex bank had informed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, States and the Armed Forces that the payment of Hajj BTA, which was pegged at $500 per pilgrim, would be issued in the ratio of 60/40% cash and card.
The CBN had before 2024 Hajj said only $200 will be given in cash while the balance of $300 will be given in cards.
