The Central {Bank} of Nigeria (CBN) has accredited using cash-based Private Journey Allowance (PTA) for Nigerian pilgrims taking part within the 2026 Hajj, providing a one-year reprieve from its deliberate transition to a completely digital cost system.
The approval adopted high-level engagement by the Nationwide Hajj Fee of Nigeria (NAHCON), by the fee chairman, Ambassador Ismail Abba Yusuf, who strives to handle mounting considerations amongst intending pilgrims and key stakeholders over the feasibility of a right away change to a card-based regime.
In a letter signed by the Division of Foreign money Operations and Department Administration, the CBN confirmed it had “graciously granted approval for cost of money as PTA for the 2026 pilgrimage,” including that the concession is strictly restricted to this 12 months’s Hajj train.
The apex {bank}, nevertheless, reaffirmed its dedication to {financial} system modernisation, stating {that a} absolutely digital, card-based PTA framework shall be applied from the 2027 Hajj operations. It additionally directed NAHCON to start aggressive sensitisation of pilgrims on digital cost channels forward of the transition.
The event has been broadly welcomed by the stakeholders within the hajj train, significantly by intending pilgrims, a lot of whom had expressed apprehension over the readiness of digital cost programs for a non secular train of such scale and sensitivity.
Investigations revealed that considerations had centred on problems with digital literacy, particularly amongst aged pilgrims, in addition to fears of system failures, card loss and restricted technical assist in Saudi Arabia throughout peak pilgrimage durations.
For a lot of, the approval of money PTA restores a measure of confidence and predictability to the pilgrimage course of.
A senior official at a state pilgrims’ welfare board, who spoke on situation of anonymity, stated the choice would “forestall avoidable confusion and operational bottlenecks,” noting {that a} sudden transition to a cashless system may have disrupted journey preparations and undermined the general Hajj expertise.
{Financial} analysts, nevertheless, view the CBN’s resolution as a tactical adjustment slightly than a coverage retreat.
Business observers say it will require a multi-layered technique, together with public enlightenment campaigns, collaboration with {financial} establishments, and the introduction of pilot schemes to familiarise pilgrims with card utilization forward of 2027. There are additionally requires the deployment of technical assist groups in Saudi Arabia to help Nigerian pilgrims in navigating digital cost platforms when the system turns into absolutely operational.