Nigeria, April 24 -- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has approved a cash-based Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for Nigerians performing the 2025 Hajj.

The approval came following the intervention of Vice President Kashim Shettima, who appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on behalf of the pilgrims through the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Stanley Nkwocha, spokesperson for Mr Shettima, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) introduced a new payment method for the BTA earlier in the year for Nigerians embarking on the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

Under the revised system, each pilgrim would be issued an ATM card for withdrawals and transactions during the pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi...