Daniel Otera
For hundreds of intending pilgrims from Kwara State, the journey to Hajj 2025 began with prayers, preparation, and promise. But somewhere between Ilorin and the sacred sites of Saudi Arabia, that promise gave way to deception exposing the deep vulnerabilities of Nigerian pilgrims abroad, particularly the elderly.
Viral videos recently emerged showing distressed Kwara pilgrims in Medina, claiming they had been shortchanged in their Basic Travel Allowance (BTA). The images sparked public outrage and raised urgent questions about the systemic risks faced by Nigerian citizens undertaking religious journeys overseas.
In response, the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board clarified that each pilgrim was duly issued USD $500 in Ilorin, under public scrutiny and with oversight from Department of State Services (DSS) officials.
However, some pilgrims later discovered upon attempting currency exchange in Medina that what they held were five $1 bills, not the five $100 notes they had been given.
A preliminary review of the incident points to one glaring trend: the victims were mostly elderly and unfamiliar with foreign currency denominations. Lacking the ability to distinguish between different dollar notes, many sought help from strangers offering to convert their cash into Saudi Riyals. It was in these moments of misplaced trust that the fraud reportedly occurred.
Though Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has since approved a full refund of USD $500 for each affected pilgrim, a move widely commended, the incident reflects a far deeper, recurring failure in Nigeria’s Hajj administration and oversight mechanisms.
The defrauding of Nigerian pilgrims is not unique to Kwara State. Over the years, similar cases have involved pilgrims from other states, highlighting systemic flaws in Nigeria’s pilgrimage logistics and safety protocols.
In 2023, Nigeria fully utilised its Hajj quota for the first time in over a decade, with approximately 95,000 citizens making the pilgrimage. The same quota was allocated for 2024, under the supervision of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
Yet despite the scale of this national mobilisation, persistent reports of fraud, exploitation, and poor orientation continue to trail Nigerian pilgrims particularly regarding currency exchanges, accommodation issues, and reliance on unofficial guides.
The recurrence of such fraud points to a troubling reality: many elderly and first-time pilgrims are simply unequipped to navigate foreign environments. The quality of pre-departure orientation, on-ground support, and diplomatic coordination with Saudi authorities remains inadequate.
One of the most glaring risks during the Hajj season is Nigeria’s continued reliance on cash disbursement of Basic Travel Allowance. Each pilgrim is allocated USD $500, typically given in five $100 bills at departure points like Ilorin Airport, under the watch of security operatives. Once pilgrims arrive in Saudi Arabia, however, formal oversight dissipates.
This system leaves elderly and vulnerable pilgrims many of whom are illiterate, unbanked, and unfamiliar with foreign currencies at the mercy of informal exchange networks. Language barriers, lack of access to formal banking in Mecca and Medina, and limited digital literacy further exacerbate their vulnerability.
Despite security checks at Nigerian airports, pilgrims frequently encounter unauthorised service providers abroad, offering everything from transportation to currency exchange. Fraudsters take advantage of pilgrims’ trust, especially the elderly, who often rely on goodwill and lack awareness of the risks involved.
Following the Medina scam, the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board reaffirmed its support for transitioning to a cashless BTA system.
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) first proposed replacing cash with preloaded debit cards in 2023, after several fraud cases were linked to untraceable cash swaps abroad. Digital alternatives, experts argue, offer traceability, reduce theft, and improve accountability.
However, implementation has been sluggish. Only two states Kano and Gombe piloted a mixed cash-and-card model in 2024. Major challenges remain: many elderly pilgrims are unbanked, and a significant number lack the digital literacy needed to operate debit cards or ATMs especially those with Arabic-only instructions.
Without targeted education and infrastructure support, a fully cashless system could inadvertently deepen exclusion for the very groups it aims to protect.
Governor AbdulRazaq’s prompt compensation of affected pilgrims is commendable. But reimbursement after the fact cannot become the model for future pilgrimages. What’s urgently needed is a proactive overhaul of Nigeria’s Hajj management system one that emphasises prevention over palliative responses.
Key reforms should include:
Compulsory orientation sessions on currency handling and travel safety.
Digital literacy training for all pilgrims, especially the elderly.
Designated currency exchange centres backed by regulatory oversight.
Stronger diplomatic coordination with Saudi authorities to monitor fraud reports and protect pilgrims abroad.
The fact that such scams persist year after year suggests that Nigeria’s pilgrimage system still relies on outdated assumptions, chief among them that all pilgrims can independently navigate a complex and often predatory foreign environment.
The Medina scam involving Kwara pilgrims is not just a human-interest story. It is a governance issue.
It underscores the urgent need to replace ad hoc arrangements with a structured, inclusive, and accountable system that reflects the realities of today’s Hajj journey.
