El-Rufai's Ban on Christian Pilgrimage Sponsorship Criticized

Sheikh Haliru Maraya, a member of the Kaduna State Special Hajj Committee, addressed the impact of Governor Nasir El-Rufai's ban on government sponsorship for Christian pilgrimages. He stated that the ban, which was justified on fiscal prudence grounds, has led to a situation where approximately 985 Muslim pilgrims were sponsored to Saudi Arabia, while no Christian pilgrims received government support for their pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Maraya emphasized that the El-Rufai administration's policies appeared to favor Muslim pilgrims, with a consistent record of sponsorship for Muslim officials and sub-officials from 2015 to 2023. He noted that the recent decision by Governor Uba Sani to lift the eleven-year suspension on Christian pilgrimage sponsorship reflects a commitment to fair and inclusive governance.

Maraya argued that reinstating sponsorship for Christian pilgrims does not undermine support for Muslim pilgrims but rather establishes a balanced approach to religious matters in a pluralistic society.