Kano State Government has appealed to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to consider issuing full payment of pilgrims’ Basic Travelling Allowance (BTA) before departure to ease unforeseen bottlenecks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The appeal was made due to the Federal government policy that stipulates $200 in cash and $300 accessible via automated teller card in Saudi Arabia.
Chairman board of directors, Kano State Pilgrims Board, Yusif Lawan, expressed concerns about the new CBN policy causing hardship for pilgrims in the holy land. He highlighted the challenges faced by rural pilgrims who may not be familiar with electronic payment systems.
Director General, Alhaji Lamin Rabi’u Danbappa, also criticized the policy and called for a reevaluation to reduce hardships on the pilgrims, especially amidst high travel costs this year. The Board urged authorities to reverse the decision to ensure a smoother pilgrimage experience.
Despite the challenges, a total of 3,275 pilgrims have departed Nigeria in eight rounds of flights to Saudi Arabia. The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria confirmed the departure of 425 Lagos pilgrims on a recent flight to Madinah.