A faith-based registered Civil Society Organisation (CSO), that reports, monitors and advocates for workable Hajj policies in Nigeria, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to exclude Nigerian intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj from its new policy of payment of Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) via automated teller machine (ATM) cards.
In a statement signed by its national coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, made available to Tribune Online on Wednesday, the IHR said the policy would create unprecedented hardship and confusion in the hajj eco system in Nigeria.
The CSO, which was at the forefront of the same campaign against the use of ATM cards to pay pilgrims their BTA during the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, noted that the policy would bring hardship to the pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during the holy pilgrimage.
“We advise CBN to exclude Hajj pilgrims from this policy because of the foreseen hardship to be faced by our dollar pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia,” the IHR advised.
According to the statement, before the commencement of the 2024 Hajj airlift, the apex bank had informed the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), states and the Armed Forces that the payment of that year’s Hajj BTA, which was pegged at $500 per pilgrim, would be issued in the ratio of 60/40% cash and card.
The bank said only $200 would be given in cash while the balance of $300 will be given in cards.
IHR recalled that the decision generated a lot of controversy because of the expected challenges to the use of cards by the average Nigerian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
IHR said that it understood that the CBN had promised to implement the policy during the forthcoming hajj exercise.
While arguing against the policy, the CSO stated that majority of Nigerian pilgrims were mostly from the rural areas and not versatile with e-payment systems and could easily had their cards blocked in the holy land.
“Firstly, the majority of Nigerian pilgrims are from rural areas and most of them are not versatile in the use of e-payment systems.
“They can easily enter the wrong pin 3 times and the cards will be blocked while in Makkah or Madina, in Saudi Arabia.
“Who will reactive the cards for them at a time when all focus is on how to carry out hajj rites diligently to attain the utmost reward of hajj mabrur?,” IHR asked.
Secondly, the CSO further stated that there are less than 10 ATM machines within Misfala and Shara Mansur areas in Makkah, where 90 percent of Nigerian pilgrims are usually accommodated during Hajj.
IHR added that pilgrims would be made to pay for the ATM cards and the withdrawal charges which would further deplete their $500 BTA.
“There is also the risk of losing the ATM cards, theft and scammers capitalising on the hectic nature of the hajj exercise to defraud the pilgrims,” it submitted.
IHR added that with Nigeria on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the tendency is for ATM cards issued by Nigeria to be rejected by a number of vendors outside the shores of the country.
“Given the above, IHR therefore appeals to the CBN to exclude Nigerian pilgrims from the BTA on card policy to avoid putting pilgrims in jeopardy,” the CSO stated.
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