Nigeria, Jan. 31 -- A civil society group, Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the Central Bank of Nigeria's directive requiring ATM cards for the payment of the Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) to pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj.

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Ibrahim Muhammad, the group warned that the policy could impose severe hardship on pilgrims, noting that about 70 per cent come from rural areas with limited access to electronic banking.

IHR said language barriers in Saudi Arabia, unfamiliarity with ATM usage, and possible transaction failures could expose pilgrims to financial losses and embarrassment.

The group urged the suspension of the ATM-only policy, a return to cas...