Press release
The Chairman Board of Directors of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Yusif Lawan, led a meeting to discuss the issue pertaining to the Basic Traveling Allowance (BTA) for this year’s Hajj exercises.
Alhaji Yusif Lawan stated that the Board has recently received a directive from the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria regarding the BTA process. According to the directive, pilgrims will receive only $200 in cash, while the remaining $300 will be accessible via card in Saudi Arabia.
In his remarks, the Director General of the Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Lamin Rabi’u Danbappa, expressed his shock at this decision, describing it as unjustified.
He pointed out that many pilgrims come from rural areas and may not be familiar with using cards to access their funds in Saudi Arabia.
Alhaji Lamin Rabi’u Danbappa called on the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria to reconsider this decision, noting that it imposes additional hardships on the pilgrims, who are already facing challenges due to the high Hajj fare this year.
The Director General emphasized that requiring pilgrims to use cards in Saudi Arabia could lead to numerous problems during the Hajj exercises. He stressed that the BTA is intended to assist pilgrims and should not be a cause of confusion or difficulty.
He urged the relevant authorities to ensure that the BTA is provided in a manner that genuinely assists the pilgrims, without complicating their experience.
Signed
Sulaiman A Dederi
Public Relation Officer
Kano State Pilgrims Welfare Board.
