Kebbi State Clarifies N21.5b Hajj Funding Source

On September 13, 2026, the Kebbi State Government issued a statement clarifying that the N21.5 billion remitted by the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency for the 2027 Hajj exercise to the National Hajj Commission in Abuja is not from government funds. Mr. Ahmed Idris, Chief Press Secretary to the Kebbi State Governor, responded to allegations made by Evangelist Ibrahim Dikko, who claimed that the state government allocated this amount to sponsor Muslim pilgrims.

Idris stated that the funds are solely payments made by over 3,000 intending pilgrims for their Hajj seats, emphasizing that no public funds were used for this purpose. He urged the media to differentiate between government expenditure and funds collected from citizens.

The Pilgrims Welfare Agency's role is to facilitate the registration and logistics for pilgrims, not to convert their payments into government revenue. Idris also noted that similar principles apply to Christian pilgrimages.