By Suleiman Anyalewechi
Following public outcry over potential difficulties likely to be faced by this year’s pilgrims to Saudi Arabia owing to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s, CBN, policy of permitting only $200 cash transaction out of the approved $500 Basic Traveling Allowance, BTA, the country’s apex bank late Friday, May 17, 2024, reversed itself.
In a Circular, dated May 17, and signed by the Acting Director of Currency Operations Department ,Solaja Muhammed Olawumi, sent to Commercial Banks, the CBN directed the suspension of the issuance of BTA to intending pilgrims via payments card.
“Following the urgency and observed time constraints in respect of the airlifting of the 2024 Hajj pilgrims, the Management of the Central Bank of Nigeria has graciously approved a 100% cash payments to the pilgrims.
“In view of the above ,you are expected to include your rendition reports to the CBN- stamped copies of international passports of the pilgrims.
“Kindly note that this notice supercedes the earlier modalities for the 2024 Hajj operations forwarded to you. An official letter to this effect will be forwarded shortly,” the circular reads
The Source reports that the CBN had earlier, through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON restricted intending pilgrims to only $200 cash payments ,with the remaining $300 ,out of the approved $500 BTA to be accessed by the pilgrims in the Holy Land .
The policy drew criticisms from many quarters, with the Kano State Government through the State’s Pilgrims Board calling for its reversal. It noted that the policy will imposed much difficulties on most of its pilgrims from the rural areas.
