Intending pilgrims from Nigeria to the 2025 Hajj has opposed the proposed payment of their BTAs via a payment card, saying such a policy will create untold hardship and uncertainties for them in Saudi Arabia.
Hajj Reporters gathered that CBN has informed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) that their policy of paying BTA via ATM card cannot be waived for Hajj pilgrims. Therefore, they advised Nigerian Hajj authorities to either accept the Card payment or seek a dollar equivalent at the parallel market.
Reacting, Sanusi Adekunle Saheed, said “The policy will “intentionally put our citizens in problems; the ATMs around Masjid Haraim are usually busy and the card may malfunction, the man at the CBN, cannot tell us how we are to spend our money as our old parents can’t use ATM. The States should meet with NAHCON, to iron this out.”
On his part, Nurudeen Babi opined that “most of the pilgrims are rural dwellers and cannot operate ATM effectively, loss of ATM cards is another problem. POS is the effective way of cashing money in Nigeria, and there is no POS outlet in Saudi Arabia to attend to pilgrims’ needs”.
An intending pilgrim, Alhaji Mustapha Umar, said the government, especially the President, need to intervene to save us from avoidable suffering in Saudi Arabia. “Many of our pilgrims find it difficult to interface with ATM Nigeria without one problem or the other. Now, how do you expect an old Man who has never used ATM to utilize the payment in Saudi Arabia “
However, Tasiu Dahiru suggested that NAHCON should ban BTA so that the cost of a seat would be BTA exclusive and intending pilgrims should source for their upkeep.
Similarly, Muhammed Bello Salihu said: “This system is completely inappropriate because 70 percent of the people who go for Hajj are rural people, some of whom don’t even have an account, let alone know how to use an ATM”.
Zainab Adamu Abdullahi also advised Hajj officials to give pilgrims their BTA in cash (hand-to-hand).
Hussaini Umar appealed to NAHCON to “source for Riyal in kSA, and come with riyal if the dollar is becoming gold … Sign an agreement with the klKingdom ..for movement of riyal .. or station point of collection at their respective hotels; note that most families depend on the BTA to leave something for their families before leaving Nigeria for KSA. When will we ever get it right in Nigeria?”
“The pilgrims board should not allow what happened last Hajj operation to be happening all these while, where Hajj officials allegedly duped the pilgrims of their BTA, because of the same reasons you gave here,” Ahmad Suleiman stated.
Zaharadeen Ibrahim warned that such a policy will make Nigerian pilgrims suffer in Saudi Arabia and called on the CBN to waive the policy for Hajj pilgrims.
