By Ibrahim Abubakar Nagarta
The Hajj ecosystem in the country has for the past few days now been dominated with discourses surrounding the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) insistence to introduce the use of ATM card in place of physical cash as BTA (Basic Traveling Allowance) during the forthcoming hajj operation, for the year 2025.
Indeed, many hajj experts have openly and categorically expressed fears over this new policy, arguing that it may jeopardize and imperil the excellent arrangements already put in place by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) to ensure a hitch-free and seamless hajj operation, adding that the vast majority of Nigeria’s pilgrims are not conversant with even the normal basic banking system right here in Nigeria let alone in Saudi Arabia where many countries will participate in the august hajj gathering.
The Association of Hajj Media Support Professionals ( AHMSP) therefore wishes to join hands with other well meaning and patriotic citizens of Nigeria to implore for the prompt intervention of the National Assembly, Governors Forum and our royal fathers to throw their weight behind the concerns raised by Nigerians through their respective and respected offices to draw the attention of CBN to have a rethink over this unpopular policy that could subject and portray the good image of our country in bad light should our innocent pilgrims be stranded in the holy land courtesy of the new policy.
Additionally, cross sections of Nigerians are apprehensive that if CBN goes ahead to enforce this new policy on Nigerian pilgrims, no doubt it will make nonsense and meaningless the efforts made earlier by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON ) in controlling this year’s hajj fare from skyrocketing much above what was paid in 2024, emphasizing that the value of the Five Hundred Dollars (BTA) promised to pilgrims by NAHCON, in the forthcoming hajj operation will be further bastardized given the current exchange rate of Dollar to Naira at the parallel market.
Furthermore, States’ pilgrims boards and agencies should be at the vanguard of this struggle by doing everything humanly possible to convince CBN through their respective states governors, to see reasons why this ATM card policy should be set aside or suspended, because they might be the ones to bear the brunt more, as NAHCON role is only supervisory.