The Central Bank of Nigeria has approved the request by intending pilgrims to be granted cash transactions for the holy pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

This followed the intervention of Vice-President Kashim Shettima, who appealed to President Bola Tinubu on behalf of the pilgrims through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

Earlier in the year, the CBN introduced a new payment method for basic travel allowance for Nigerians embarking on the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

However, there were concerns that the hitherto use of mandatory debit cards proposed by the CBN for the pilgrimage would endanger the smooth planning, operation, and performance at the 2025 Hajj.

After meeting with the vice president, NAHCON’s commissioner for policy, personnel management and finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, confirmed that the CBN has granted Nigerian pilgrims the opportunity of cash transactions for upcoming hajj.

According to Mr Abdulrazaq, the meeting was prompted by the federal government’s policy on the card for BTA for 2025 hajj operations.

Similarly, the NAHCON’s secretary, Mustapha Ali, clarified that the change was neither a concession nor a subsidy from the federal government.

”There is a need for clarification. It is not a concession or intervention by the federal government. It is not a subsidy either. The vice-president intervened because most of the pilgrims make purchases in the streets of Mecca or Medina, and they do not need debit cards to make their purchases.

“Now, it is allowed for them to carry cash. The CBN will provide the cash at the market rate,” he explained.

In the same vein, Abba Aliyu, director of human resources, CBN, and board member representing the CBN in NAHCON, explained that the apex bank intervention was borne out of interest in the welfare of Nigerian pilgrims.

(NAN)