The announcement was made following a high-level intervention by Vice President Kashim Shettima, who personally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on behalf of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) and concerned pilgrims. His appeal centered on the practical challenges that a card-only policy would pose, particularly for the largely rural, elderly, and financially less-literate population that makes up the majority of Nigerian Hajj pilgrims.
Following a closed-door meeting with the Vice President, NAHCON’s Commissioner for Policy, Personnel Management & Finance, Aliu Abdulrazaq, confirmed that the CBN had agreed to allow cash payments. “Out of the magnanimity of the CBN and the appeal made by the Vice President, they dropped the idea of using cards for pilgrims in the 2025 Hajj,” Abdulrazaq stated. “They have conceded to people having cash instead of a card. This is a landmark achievement for NAHCON.”
He further explained that infrastructure limitations in Saudi Arabia—such as limited access to ATMs in pilgrimage areas—would have posed serious logistical hurdles for pilgrims under a debit card-only system. "There is only one ATM near where the pilgrims perform rituals, and it's always crowded,” he said. “This change removes a major obstacle.”
Dr. Mustapha Muhammad Ali, NAHCON’s Secretary, clarified that this policy shift should not be seen as a government concession or financial subsidy. “This is not an intervention or subsidy by the government,” he said. “It is simply a reconsideration of the payment method, recognizing that most pilgrims buy goods directly on the streets of Mecca and Medina, where card payments are often impractical.”
CBN Director of Human Resources and board representative in NAHCON, Abba Muhammad Aliyu, added that the decision was driven by concern for the welfare of the pilgrims. “Looking at the financial literacy of many of them, we realized that asking them to operate ATM cards would create more confusion than convenience,” he said. “So the Bank, in its wisdom and on the Vice President’s plea, agreed to revert to cash.”
Initially, the CBN had planned to modernize the Hajj payment process by issuing debit cards linked to special BTA accounts, aiming to increase financial transparency and reduce the risks associated with carrying large sums of cash. However, critics argued that the move overlooked the realities of Nigeria’s pilgrimage demographics and infrastructural limitations in Saudi Arabia.
With the revised policy now in place, pilgrims will receive their travel allowance in cash at prevailing market rates, offering them greater flexibility and convenience as they prepare for the 2025 pilgrimage. According to NAHCON, all other operational plans remain on track, and the new payment option is expected to significantly enhance the overall Hajj experience.