MURIC’s Allegations Untrue, N10b Hajj Loan Already Returned To Govt Coffers-Kebbi Govt
Kebbi State Government has described as untrue the allegations raised by the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) in respect of the N10 billion intervention for intending pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj.
The allegations were also described as misleading and not reflective of the full facts as the issue was wrongly presented as a diversion of public funds, whereas it was in fact a temporary intervention to protect the interests of Kebbi pilgrims.
Governor Nasir Idris’ Special Adviser, Mr Yahaya Sarki in a statement issued in Birnin Kebbi and made available to Team@orientactualmags.com noted that the state Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, who made the clarification on Tuesday, noted that it was not a sponsorship or grant but rather 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 added that NAHCON had fixed December 5, 2025, as the deadline for full payment nationwide, but as at 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.
Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed added that an effective loan recovery process was in place and the beneficiaries have already repaid the loan and the money is back in government coffers.
The Information Commissioner also said the intervention was made so that the 1,300 intending pilgrims will not lose their hajj slots saying ‘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 complete their payments’ while adding that ‘this 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.
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’ he said.
According to him, the decision to intervene was guided by the socioeconomic realities of the affected pilgrims, many of who 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.
‘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’ he said.
The Kebbi State Government also restated 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 recognizing 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-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you
