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The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof Abdullahi Usman, has commended President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima over their interventions on cash Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for intending pilgrims to perform the 2025 Hajj.

Usman said that the cashless payment method of BTA for intending pilgrims introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would have affected the commission’s arrangements for the seamless 2025 Hajj exercise.

The CBN had approved the commission’s request to grant cash transactions for pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj exercise.

The Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Prof Abdullahi Usman, has commended President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima over their interventions on cash Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) for intending pilgrims to perform the 2025 Hajj.

Usman said that the cashless payment method of BTA for intending pilgrims introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would have affected the commission’s arrangements for the seamless 2025 Hajj exercise.

The CBN had approved the commission’s request to grant cash transactions for pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj exercise.

“We will work closely with relevant stakeholders especially the CBN to resolve the BTA via ATM or cash riddles. The world is fast changing. This has made it imperative for Hajj handlers to be proactive in keeping pace with technological advancements.

“Our major concern here is that the majority of Nigerian pilgrims are rural dwellers who are not conversant with Nigeria’s banking processes.

“However, ATMs in the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah are grossly inadequate to cover the needs of over two or three million pilgrims. One hardly finds five such machines in the vicinity where the pilgrims stay in the two holy cities.

“But after this year’s Hajj exercise, the commission would sit with stakeholders under the guidance of the Vice President to find a lasting solution to the challenges.”

Usman revealed that an advance team of the National Medical Team would depart Nigeria for Saudi Arabia on the 30th of this month.

He added that the team was inaugurated under his able leadership.

He stated. “The advanced medical team was expected to be in Saudi Arabia at least nine days before the arrival of the first batch of Nigerian pilgrims to the holy land.

“They will be adequately prepared for the tasks ahead of them. We assure our pilgrims that the team is more capable of attending to their health needs throughout their stay.”

The Chairman further stated that the team needed to be on the ground to ensure that all Nigeria’s clinics in both Makkah and Madinah are fully stocked with the necessary drugs and other sundry medical requirements.

He advised pilgrims with health challenges to disclose them to relevant authorities for proper documentation, adequate provision of medications, and or professional advice.

He stated: “I also call on state pilgrims’ welfare boards, agencies, and commissions to adequately educate their pilgrims on the need to guard themselves against the forecast heatwave in the holy land during this year’s Hajj exercise.

“All pilgrims should avoid loitering and wandering to protect themselves from sun and or heat strokes.”