Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria, has stepped in to assist several state pilgrims in Saudi Arabia who were defrauded of their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA), providing $500 to each of the affected individuals as compensation.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday from the Holy Land by the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, AbdulSalam Abdulkadir.
The statement followed viral reports and video footage showing some Kwara pilgrims lamenting that they had received one-dollar bills instead of the $100 notes originally issued to them.
According to the Board, an investigation revealed that each pilgrim had initially been issued the approved $500 BTA in five $100 notes, in the presence of security personnel and officials.
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The disbursement was carried out publicly and under the supervision of the Directorate of State Security (DSS), which verified the authenticity of the currency. Each recipient also signed a document confirming receipt after counting the funds.
Preliminary findings by the Board suggest that the fraud occurred after the pilgrims had arrived in Medina.
“In several cases, the affected individuals mostly elderly and not familiar with foreign currencies—had sought help from strangers to convert their funds into Saudi Riyals.
“These unscrupulous individuals apparently took advantage of their vulnerability by swapping $100 bills with $1 bills under the guise of assisting them with currency exchange.”
Describing the act as “evil,” the Board stated that further investigations are ongoing to identify and prosecute those responsible.
In the interim, Governor AbdulRazaq has approved the immediate disbursement of an additional $500 to each defrauded pilgrim to cushion their losses. “We ask Allaah to reward His Excellency’s swift and compassionate intervention,” the statement read in part.
The Governor had earlier visited Kwara pilgrims at their hotel in Mecca, where he also offered financial assistance to all pilgrims to support their local expenses.
In response to the broader implications of the fraud, the Pilgrims’ Board expressed support for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposed transition from cash-based disbursement to preloaded debit cards for BTAs. “This will enhance transparency, reduce the risk of theft or fraud, and ensure that all pilgrims especially the elderly can manage their funds more securely,” it stated.
The Board strongly condemned the actions of those who exploited the goodwill of the pilgrims and urged the public to provide credible information that could assist in the apprehension and prosecution of the culprits.
It reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to the welfare of its pilgrims and the importance of introducing improved safeguards in future pilgrimages.
