An independent faith-based Civil Society Organization, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has called on States’ Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards, agencies, and commissions to launch special enlightenment campaigns to educate Nigerian pilgrims on the use and identification of foreign currency denominations ahead of the 2025 Hajj exercise.
The call follows the recent approval by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for Hajj Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) payments to be made in cash, in US dollars.
In a statement signed on Friday by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, IHR warned that most Nigerian pilgrims are unfamiliar with foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar and the Saudi Riyal, which could expose them to the risk of financial exploitation during their pilgrimage.
“Now that the CBN has approved the cash payment of 2025 Hajj BTA in US dollars, we urge States’ Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Boards to organize special educational sessions to enlighten Nigerian pilgrims on currency denominations, especially the exchange rates between the US dollar and Saudi Riyals,” the statement read.
IHR highlighted that many pilgrims, especially women who often engage in currency exchanges for personal shopping or services upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, have previously been vulnerable to fraud due to a lack of familiarity with the value of different denominations.
The group also stressed the importance of showing pilgrims samples of Saudi Riyal notes to enable them to easily recognize and correctly use the currency during financial transactions.
“Past experiences have shown that some unscrupulous individuals in Saudi Arabia exploit the ignorance of pilgrims during purchases or while exchanging currencies, leading to financial losses,” the statement noted.
IHR further appealed to airlines involved in Hajj operations to incorporate educational content about currency identification into their onboard programs as part of their corporate social responsibility, helping to mitigate financial risks for the pilgrims.
“Understanding currency denominations is essential as it forms the basis of all monetary transactions and will empower pilgrims to manage their BTA more wisely,” the CSO emphasized.
According to the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA), the most commonly exchanged currencies during Hajj include the US dollar, euro, Singapore dollar, Indian rupee, Indonesian rupiah, Emirati dirham, and Malaysian ringgit.
IHR expressed hope that with better financial literacy, Nigerian pilgrims would be better protected against fraud and better equipped to navigate their financial dealings throughout the pilgrimage.
