N10bn Hajj Loan: Kebbi Govt Dismisses MURIC’s ‘Misplaced Priorities’ Claim

The Kebbi State Government has rejected the allegations by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) over the N10 billion intervention for intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, describing them as misleading and not reflective of the full facts.

The government stated that the issue was incorrectly presented as a diversion of public funds. In contrast, it was, in fact, a temporary and fully recoverable intervention aimed at protecting the interests of Kebbi pilgrims.

Reacting at a press conference in Birnin Kebbi, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, clarified that the amount was not a sponsorship or grant but a short-term loan advanced through the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency to enable intending pilgrims meet the deadline set by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria.

He explained that NAHCON fixed 5th December 2025 as the deadline for full payment nationwide, but as of that date, only about 2,000 pilgrims from Kebbi State had fully paid, leaving approximately 1,300 others at the risk of losing their Hajj slots due to incomplete payments.

According to him, to prevent this outcome, the state government approved a temporary financial intervention on the clear understanding that the money would be repaid within two weeks once the affected pilgrims completed their payments and the agreement was fully honoured.

”By 16 December 2025, just eleven days after the intervention, the entire N10 billion had been repaid in full and returned to government coffers, with no loss of public funds.

The Commissioner said, bank and agency records are available for public scrutiny to confirm both the date the loan was granted and the date it was fully repaid.

Alhaji Ahmed said the decision to intervene was guided by the socioeconomic realities of the affected pilgrims, many of whom are farmers and traders who were awaiting proceeds from late November and early December harvests and business activities, making their temporary difficulty a matter of timing rather than inability to pay.

He revealed that, as a result of the timely intervention, Kebbi State now has 3,629 fully paid pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj, ranking second nationally, and has been included in the first batch of states to be airlifted at the commencement of the Hajj operations.

The Kebbi State Government also reaffirmed that it has not neglected critical sectors such as health and infrastructure, noting that hospitals, including tertiary facilities, have been constructed, rehabilitated or are undergoing rehabilitation, alongside numerous primary healthcare centres.

While recognising the role of civil society groups in promoting accountability, the government urged MURIC to verify facts before public commentary and reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, good governance and the best interests of the people of Kebbi State.

Earlier, MURIC had criticised the state government for approving the ₦10 billion loan to secure additional Hajj slots, describing the move as a misplacement of priorities.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, the group urged the government to focus on education, healthcare, infrastructure, and job creation, arguing that Islam does not compel pilgrimage for those without the means.

MURIC also questioned the rationale for the loan and raised concerns about repayment, calling on governments to withdraw from direct Hajj sponsorship and limit their role to coordination and protocol.