ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Kebbi State Government has explained that the N10 billion mentioned in a recent statement by the Muslim Rights Concern was neither a subsidy nor a diversion of public funds for Hajj sponsorship, but a short-term loan provided to intending pilgrims to meet a strict payment deadline set by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.
The explanation was given on Tuesday at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi, where the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, said the money was advanced through the state Pilgrims Welfare Agency on a recoverable basis and was fully paid back into government accounts within eleven days.
Ahmed said NAHCON set December 5, 2025, as the final deadline for full payment for the 2026 Hajj.
As of that date, Kebbi State had about 2,000 pilgrims who had completed full payment, while roughly 1,300 others had only made partial deposits.
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He explained that the temporary intervention was necessary to ensure that outstanding balances did not result in the state losing its officially 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.
Ahmed said the N10 billion was fully repaid on December 16, 2025, adding that all supporting documents, including bank and agency records, were available for verification.
The commissioner revealed that the intervention increased the state’s total number of fully paid pilgrims to 3,629 for the upcoming Hajj, placing Kebbi as the second-highest contributor nationwide and among the earliest states cleared for airlift.
Responding to claims that the move reflected misplaced public priorities, Ahmed said the state’s ongoing investments in healthcare covering both tertiary and primary facilities were not affected, describing the Hajj financing arrangement as a “temporary liquidity bridge” rather than a subsidy or sponsorship.
MURIC, in a statement released over the weekend, had questioned the appropriateness of deploying public funds for what it described as Hajj-related financing, warning that such action could divert resources from critical social sectors and set a problematic precedent.
Hajj funding has long been a subject of debate in Nigeria, where state and federal authorities are responsible for pilgrim registration, logistics and airlift coordination.
Historically, states do not directly sponsor Hajj participation, although many particularly in the northern region provide administrative support, logistical waivers and, in some cases, limited interventions to meet regulatory requirements set by NAHCON and Saudi authorities.
In recent years, volatile exchange rates and tighter payment deadlines imposed by NAHCON have increased liquidity pressures on intending pilgrims, many of whom rely on seasonal income from agriculture and local trade.
States such as Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Kebbi have often recorded some of the largest pilgrim contingents and are therefore more exposed to rigid payment timelines.
Kebbi has consistently ranked among the top participating states in Nigeria’s Hajj operations, driven by its large rural population and strong demand for pilgrimage registration.
Officials said losing Hajj slots due to non-payment would not only have financial consequences for intending pilgrims but could also alienate constituents who had already paid substantial deposits.
The state government urged advocacy groups and commentators to verify financial details before making public claims, while reaffirming its commitment to transparency, accountability and prudent management of public resources.