CBN Approves Cash-Based BTA for 2025 Hajj Pilgrims, Easing Travel Hurdles
By Abdullahi Yusuf
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved the use of cash-based Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for Nigerian pilgrims undertaking the 2025 Hajj, reversing its earlier mandate for a card-only payment system. The decision follows a high-level intervention led by Vice President Kashim Shettima and signals a major relief for prospective pilgrims and the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Concerns had mounted over the practicality of a mandatory debit card policy introduced by the CBN earlier this year. Under that plan, each pilgrim was to be issued an ATM card for transactions and withdrawals in Saudi Arabia. The system would have required all intending pilgrims to open special BTA-linked bank accounts — a move critics said could pose significant challenges for the largely rural and elderly demographic of Nigerian pilgrims.
Following deliberations at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday, NAHCON officials confirmed that the central bank had yielded to appeals for a more flexible, cash-based alternative.
Speaking to journalists, Aliu Abdulrazaq, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management, and Finance, described the outcome as a “landmark achievement.”
“The Vice President intervened and appealed directly to the CBN on behalf of the pilgrims,” Abdulrazaq said. “Out of their magnanimity, and in recognition of the Vice President’s plea, the Central Bank agreed to drop the card-only requirement for the 2025 Hajj. Pilgrims can now carry cash.”
He noted the difficulty pilgrims face in using cards in Mecca, especially in areas where ATMs are scarce or frequently overcrowded.
“There is only one ATM in some locations,” he added, “and it’s constantly overwhelmed. Additionally, 95% of our pilgrims are peasant farmers unfamiliar with digital banking. Even identifying foreign currencies can be a challenge.”
The change, he said, removes one of the final barriers to a smooth Hajj operation this year.
NAHCON Secretary Dr Mustapha Muhammad Ali further clarified that the move is neither a government subsidy nor a financial concession.
“This is not a form of intervention or subsidy,” Ali said. “The Vice President’s request was based on practical realities — most pilgrims transact on the streets of Mecca and Medina where debit cards are not the norm. The CBN will now provide the BTA in cash at prevailing market rates.”
Abba Muhammad Aliyu, CBN’s Director of Human Resources and board representative on NAHCON, emphasized that the Bank’s decision was driven by concern for pilgrims’ welfare.
“Financial literacy levels among pilgrims are low,” he said. “Many would struggle to use ATMs or card-based systems. The Bank’s senior management considered these realities and, upon the Vice President’s intervention, approved the return to a cash-based system.”
The development is seen as a win for both NAHCON and intending pilgrims, who now face fewer logistical complications ahead of the Hajj.
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