The Kebbi State Government on Tuesday clarified the ₦10 billion Hajj intervention released to the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, following criticism from Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), which had urged the funds be redirected to education and healthcare.
At a press conference, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmed, explained that the funds were a repayable loan aimed at meeting the deadline for securing Hajj slots for intending pilgrims from the state.
“We recognise MURIC as a responsible organisation that stands for truth, but it appears they did not have sufficient information regarding the intervention,” Ahmed said. “For the record, the ₦10 billion was a loan from the Kebbi State Government to the agency, to be repaid through the sale of Hajj seats, and the money has since been returned to the state’s account.”
On healthcare, the commissioner highlighted that Governor Nasir Idris had addressed remuneration disparities between state and federal doctors to curb the migration of medical personnel in search of better opportunities. He added that hospitals across the state have been rehabilitated and equipped with modern facilities to meet residents’ healthcare needs.
Ahmed also noted that the education sector has received significant attention, including school renovations and the provision of furniture to enhance learning across the state.
MURIC had criticised the state government for approving the ₦10 billion loan to secure an additional 1,300 Hajj slots for the 2026 pilgrimage. In a statement on Monday, its Executive Director, Ishaq Akintola, described the decision as a misplacement of priorities, urging the government to focus on critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation.
The group also stressed that improving the welfare of residents should take precedence over competing with other states in the number of pilgrims sent for Hajj.
