By Abdullahi Bayero
In a move that has left many Nigerian Muslims bewildered and deeply disappointed, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), under the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has once again introduced a policy that threatens to undermine the sacred obligation of Hajj.
Each year, thousands of Nigerian pilgrims prepare to embark on a spiritual journey — a once-in-a-lifetime pillar of Islam. Yet, rather than support and facilitate this noble endeavor, the government has chosen to complicate it with an ill-advised financial directive: “Accept your Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) via ATM card or go to the parallel market to buy dollars.”
This is not only impractical — it is deeply unjust.
A Policy Disconnected from Reality
For a significant number of Nigerian pilgrims, particularly those from rural areas and the elderly, the use of ATM cards is foreign, confusing, and inconvenient. Many do not use or trust digital banking systems. Replacing cash with ATM cards in an environment where Point of Sale (POS) machines are rare or unreliable, especially in pilgrimage zones, is a recipe for chaos and suffering.
To then suggest that anyone unwilling to accept this option should go to the black market to source their dollars is not just tone-deaf — it is offensive.
This policy creates a clear financial and psychological burden on pilgrims who have saved for a lifetime to fulfill the sacred divine obligation. It effectively tells the average Nigerian Muslim: “Your religion is not our priority.”
NAHCON: A Silent Witness?
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), entrusted with safeguarding the welfare of pilgrims, has maintained a troubling silence on this matter. Instead of acting as a shield for the faithful, it appears to have aligned itself with a policy that prioritizes financial controls over human dignity and spiritual duty.
By failing to challenge the CBN’s directive or advocate alternatives, NAHCON risks losing the trust of the very people it was created to serve.
A Dangerous Precedent for Religious Freedom
This situation raises a serious question: Is this administration inadvertently sabotaging religious expression under the guise of financial policy?
Religious freedom is a constitutional right. If pilgrims cannot access the means to fulfill their obligations without being subjected to confusing or discriminatory systems, then we are sliding down a dangerous path.
The same federal institutions that approve forex for luxury items, international schooling, and private travel must not place unjust roadblocks before those seeking to answer the call of faith.
A Call for Urgent Redress
This policy must be reversed immediately and completely. Pilgrims deserve the right to receive their BTA in a format that works for them — cash or any user-friendly alternative. Anything less is an act of systemic exclusion.
The government must choose: Will it stand as a facilitator of faith or an obstacle to it?
For a country as religiously devout as Nigeria, this is not a mere policy debate. It is a test of values, fairness, and leadership.
