The Kebbi State Government has clarified that the N10 billion referenced in a recent statement by the Muslim Rights Concern was not a subsidy or diversion of public funds for Hajj sponsorship, but a short-term loan extended to intending pilgrims to meet a strict National Hajj Commission of Nigeria payment deadline.
The clarification came at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, where the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, said the funds were advanced through the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Agency on a recoverable basis and were fully refunded to government coffers within eleven days.
According to Ahmed, NAHCON fixed December 5, 2025, as the final date for full payment for the 2026 Hajj. By that deadline, Kebbi State had recorded approximately 2,000 fully paid pilgrims, while about 1,300 other intending pilgrims had only made partial deposits.
Ahmed explained that the short-term intervention ensured that the unpaid balances did not cost the state its formally allocated Hajj slots.
“Many of the affected pilgrims are seasonal farmers and traders, whose ability to meet the deadline was dependent on returns from late-year harvests and market activities,” he stated.
He said repayment of the N10 billion was completed on December 16, 2025, adding that supporting documentation—including bank and agency records—was available for verification.
The commissioner disclosed that the intervention raised the state’s total number of fully paid pilgrims to 3,629 for the forthcoming Hajj, making Kebbi the second-highest contributor nationally and among the first batch approved for airlift.
On claims that the funds reflected misplaced public priorities, Ahmed noted that the state’s ongoing investments in healthcare—including in tertiary and primary facilities—were unaffected, describing the Hajj financing arrangement as a “temporary liquidity bridge” rather than sponsorship or subsidy.
MURIC had, in a statement issued over the weekend, questioned the propriety of deploying public funds into what it described as Hajj-related financing. The organisation argued that such expenditure risked diverting state resources away from critical social sectors and could set an undesirable precedent.
Hajj-related funding has been a recurring topic of debate in Nigeria, where state and federal authorities typically oversee pilgrim registration, logistics, and airlift coordination.
Historically, states do not sponsor Hajj participation outright, though many—especially in the north—have provided administrative support, logistical waivers, and in some cases partial interventions aimed at meeting regulatory requirements set by NAHCON and Saudi authorities.
In recent years, fluctuating exchange rates and stricter payment deadlines by NAHCON have intensified liquidity pressures among intending pilgrims, many of whom operate seasonal businesses tied to agriculture and local trade cycles.
States such as Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto, and Kebbi have often been among the largest pilgrim contingents and therefore most exposed to time-bound payment structures.
Kebbi has consistently ranked among Nigeria’s top participating states in Hajj operations, with large rural constituencies and strong demand for pilgrimage enrollment. Officials say losing slots due to non-payment would not only have financial implications for intending pilgrims but could also alienate constituents who had already made significant deposits.
The state government urged advocacy groups and commentators to verify financial details before issuing public statements, while restating its commitment to accountability and prudent resource management.
