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Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has stepped in to assist a number of the state’s Muslim pilgrims in Saudi Arabia who were defrauded of their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA) by approving a $500 compensation for each affected individual.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, AbdulSalam Abdulkadir, on Saturday, June 14, from Saudi Arabia.
It came in response to viral videos showing distressed pilgrims claiming they had received one-dollar bills instead of the $100 notes they were originally issued.
According to the Board, all pilgrims had received the approved $500 BTA in five $100 bills, handed over to them under public supervision involving security operatives, including the Directorate of State Security (DSS), who verified the authenticity of the money. Each pilgrim had signed confirmation documents after counting their funds.
Preliminary findings suggested the fraudulent swap occurred after the pilgrims had arrived in Medina. Most of the affected victims were elderly and unfamiliar with foreign currency and had unknowingly sought assistance from strangers to exchange their money into Saudi Riyals. These individuals reportedly exploited the situation by swapping the $100 bills with $1 notes while pretending to help.
Describing the act as “evil,” the Board said a full investigation is underway to trace and bring those responsible to justice.
In the interim, Governor AbdulRazaq has approved the immediate reissuance of $500 to each of the victims to ease the impact of the loss. The Board expressed appreciation for the governor’s prompt and empathetic response.
Governor AbdulRazaq had earlier visited Kwara pilgrims in Mecca, where he offered additional financial support for their local expenses.
In response to the broader concern raised by the incident, the Pilgrims’ Welfare Board voiced strong support for the Central Bank of Nigeria’s proposed plan to replace cash-based BTAs with preloaded debit cards. It argued that such a move would improve transparency, minimise fraud, and provide safer, easier fund access, especially for elderly pilgrims.
The Board also condemned the actions of those who exploited the vulnerability of the pilgrims and urged the public to provide credible information that may lead to the apprehension of the culprits.
It reaffirmed the Kwara State Government’s dedication to safeguarding the well-being of its pilgrims and strengthening measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
