Kebbi Denies Spending ₦21.5bn to Sponsor Muslim Pilgrims

The Kebbi State Government has pushed back against criticism over the reported ₦21.5 billion remittance to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, insisting that the money did not come from the state treasury.

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nasir Idris, Ahmed Idris, responded to an article by Evangelist Ibrahim Dikko in which the reported figure was presented as government spending to sponsor Muslim pilgrims.

The government described the claim as false, misleading and inaccurate.

According to the government, the money represents payments made by individual residents preparing to undertake the 2027 Hajj.

The Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency acts as the channel through which the pilgrims’ payments are collected and remitted to NAHCON.

The agency had earlier announced that ₦21.5 billion had been remitted, representing 85 per cent of the Hajj fares collected, while 3,257 intending pilgrims had registered. 

The government said the agency’s involvement should not be interpreted to mean that the funds were generated from the state budget.

Ahmed Idris said the government did not allocate ₦21.5 billion, or any equivalent amount, to sponsor the pilgrims.

He also argued that the distinction was particularly important because the matter had religious implications.

The government said it had no intention of discriminating against residents based on their faith.

It listed several interventions it said had benefited Christian communities, including support for Christian pilgrimage obligations, assistance during religious festivities and the provision of land for a Christian cemetery.

The administration also said more than 15 Christian advisers had been appointed.

Kebbi urged the public to examine the source and nature of funds before drawing conclusions about government spending.

It warned that inaccurate claims surrounding religious issues could create unnecessary tension in a state where Muslims and Christians live together.

The government maintained that the Pilgrims Welfare Agency is principally a service and facilitation body.

Its responsibilities include registration, documentation, orientation and the processing of payments for citizens who voluntarily choose to undertake pilgrimage.

Kebbi said the ₦21.5 billion should therefore not be presented as a government sponsorship package.

The administration also urged media practitioners and public commentators to verify information before publication.

It said maintaining factual accuracy was particularly important when reporting matters capable of affecting religious harmony.