CBN Approves Cash Transactions for 2025 Hajj Pilgrims After VP Shettima’s Intervention Over Concerns with Debit Card Policy
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the use of cash transactions for Nigerian pilgrims performing the 2025 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, following an intervention by Vice-President Kashim Shettima.
The approval came after Shettima appealed to President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the intending pilgrims through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). Earlier, the CBN had introduced a new payment policy mandating the use of debit cards for the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), which raised concerns about its feasibility and impact on Hajj operations.
Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the Vice President, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, confirmed the reversal of the debit card policy.
“Out of the magnanimity of the CBN and the Vice President’s intervention, the card policy for 2025 Hajj pilgrims has been dropped,” Abdulrazaq said. “This is a landmark achievement. There’s only one ATM near the ritual sites in Saudi Arabia, which is usually overcrowded. With this change, pilgrims can now make necessary purchases with ease.”
NAHCON’s Secretary, Dr. Mustapha Ali, clarified that the approval was not a subsidy or concession by the Federal Government, but a practical adjustment made in the interest of the pilgrims’ welfare.
“The Vice President stepped in because most pilgrims make purchases on the streets of Mecca and Medina, where debit cards are not practical. They can now carry cash, which the CBN will provide at the prevailing market rate,” Ali explained.
Also speaking, Malam Abba Aliyu, CBN Director of Human Resources and board member representing the bank in NAHCON, emphasized the need to accommodate the financial literacy levels of the pilgrims.
“Many pilgrims are not familiar with ATM usage. This decision will ease their experience and ensure a smoother Hajj process,” he said.
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