The Kebbi State Government has dismissed reports alleging that it allocated N21.5 billion to sponsor Muslim pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj, describing the claim as false, misleading and inaccurate.
The government said the N21.5 billion recently remitted by the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) represents payments made by individual intending pilgrims for their Hajj seats and not government expenditure.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Nasir Idris, Ahmed Idris, the government explained that the Pilgrims Welfare Agency merely serves as a channel for collecting, processing and remitting pilgrims’ payments to the appropriate authorities.
According to the statement, the amount was collectively paid by more than 3,000 intending pilgrims who voluntarily registered for the 2027 pilgrimage.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Kebbi State Government did not allocate N21.5 billion, or any amount, to sponsor the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage. The funds referred to in the article are payments made by individual intending pilgrims for their Hajj seats,” the statement said.
It added that “no public funds or state budgetary allocation were used to finance these individual pilgrimage payments.”
The government said the reported 95 per cent registration figure should therefore be understood as an indication of the level of voluntary participation by Kebbi Muslims who had paid for their respective pilgrimage seats, rather than evidence of government sponsorship.
It urged commentators and media practitioners to distinguish between government expenditure and funds collected from citizens for specific services.
“The Pilgrims Welfare Agency facilitates registration, documentation, orientation and other logistics for intending pilgrims; it does not convert pilgrims’ privately paid fees into government revenue or expenditure,” it stated.
The government also drew a parallel with Christian pilgrimage, noting that Nigerian Christians undertaking pilgrimage similarly make payments through appropriate channels, including the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and relevant church structures.
It said the involvement of government agencies in facilitating pilgrimage programmes should not automatically be interpreted to mean that funds paid by individual pilgrims constitute government expenditure.
The clarification followed an article by Evangelist Ibrahim Dikko, which reportedly alleged that the Kebbi State Government had allocated more than N21.5 billion to sponsor Muslim pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Government rejects religious discrimination claim
The Kebbi Government also rejected suggestions that the administration of Governor Nasir Idris is insensitive to the Christian community in the state.
It said the administration had demonstrated what it described as a commitment to fairness, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence among citizens of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
According to the statement, more than 15 members of the Christian community have been appointed as advisers to the administration.
The government further claimed that it had supported Christian pilgrimage obligations, settled outstanding obligations to the NCPC, provided assistance during Christian festivities, supported the construction of churches and made land available for a Christian cemetery.
It also said the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) across the state’s 21 local government areas had publicly acknowledged some of the administration’s interventions and endorsed Governor Idris and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for second-term bids.
The government maintained that these actions demonstrated that the administration does not discriminate on the basis of religion.
It consequently appealed to the writer and other commentators to verify information before publishing reports, particularly on sensitive religious issues.
“Misrepresenting pilgrims’ personal payments as government expenditure can unnecessarily create tension and undermine the peaceful religious coexistence for which Kebbi State is known,” the statement said.
The administration, it added, remains focused on improving the welfare of citizens through investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, roads, infrastructure and security.
It reiterated that the Pilgrims Welfare Agency is primarily a service and facilitation agency whose responsibility is to assist citizens who voluntarily choose to undertake pilgrimage at their own expense.
The government urged media practitioners, public commentators and citizens to uphold responsible communication and fact-check information before publication.
“Truth builds unity; misinformation can destroy it,” the statement added.
The government assured that Kebbi would continue to promote religious tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence while protecting the rights of all citizens irrespective of their religious or ethnic affiliation.
Read the full statement below:
RE: KEBBI REMITS N21.5BN FOR 2027 HAJJ, RECORDS 95% REGISTRATION — A WASTE OF RESOURCES
By Ahmed Idris
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Kebbi State
Our attention has been drawn to an article by Evangelist Ibrahim Dikko alleging that the Kebbi State Government allocated over N21.5 billion to sponsor Muslim pilgrims to the Holy Land.
We wish to categorically state that this claim is false, misleading and inaccurate.
For the avoidance of doubt, the Kebbi State Government did not allocate N21.5 billion, or any amount, to sponsor the 2027 Hajj pilgrimage. The funds referred to in the article are payments made by individual intending pilgrims for their Hajj seats.
The N21.5 billion remitted by the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency represents the collective payments of more than 3,000 intending pilgrims for the 2027 Hajj. The Agency serves as a channel through which pilgrims’ payments are collected, processed and remitted to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
No public funds or state budgetary allocation were used to finance these individual pilgrimage payments.
The 95 per cent registration figure therefore reflects the strong voluntary participation and commitment of Kebbi Muslims who chose to undertake the pilgrimage and paid for their respective Hajj seats. It should not be misconstrued as evidence of government sponsorship.
It is important that commentators and media practitioners distinguish between government expenditure and funds collected from citizens for a specific service. The Pilgrims Welfare Agency facilitates registration, documentation, orientation and other logistics for intending pilgrims; it does not convert pilgrims’ privately paid fees into government revenue or expenditure.
The same principle applies to Christian pilgrimage. Nigerian Christians who undertake pilgrimage to the Holy Land also make payments through the appropriate channels, including the National Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC) and relevant church structures. The fact that government agencies facilitate such programmes does not mean that the entire amount paid by pilgrims constitutes government expenditure.
It is, therefore, incorrect to present the N21.5 billion paid by intending Kebbi pilgrims as money allocated by the state government.
Beyond this clarification, we also wish to reject any attempt to portray the administration of Governor Nasir Idris as insensitive to the Christian community in Kebbi State. The Governor has consistently demonstrated a commitment to fairness, inclusiveness and peaceful coexistence among people of different faiths and ethnic backgrounds.
Under the present administration, members of the Christian community have been given opportunities to participate in government, including the appointment of more than 15 advisers from the Christian community. The administration has also supported Christian pilgrimage obligations, settled outstanding obligations to the National Christian Pilgrims Commission, provided assistance during Christian festivities, supported the construction of churches, and made land available for a Christian cemetery, among other interventions.
Indeed, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) across the 21 Local Government Areas of the state has publicly acknowledged aspects of the administration’s interventions and endorsed Governor Nasir Idris and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for their second-term bids.
These facts demonstrate that the administration does not discriminate on the basis of religion.
We therefore urge the writer and others who may wish to comment on matters of public interest to verify their information before publication. Misrepresenting pilgrims’ personal payments as government expenditure can unnecessarily create tension and undermine the peaceful religious coexistence for which Kebbi State is known.
The government remains focused on improving the living standards of Kebbi citizens through investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, roads, infrastructure and security, while ensuring that the welfare of all citizens remains a priority irrespective of religious or ethnic affiliation.
The Pilgrims Welfare Agency is a service and facilitation agency. Its role is to assist citizens who voluntarily choose to undertake pilgrimage at their own expense.
We call on media practitioners, public commentators and citizens alike to uphold the principles of responsible communication by verifying facts before publication, particularly on sensitive religious matters.
Truth builds unity; misinformation can destroy it.
Kebbi State remains peaceful and united, and the government will continue to protect the rights of all citizens while promoting religious tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence.
Signed:
Ahmed Idris
Chief Press Secretary to the Governor
Kebbi State