Group Faults Kebbi Govt’s N10bn Loan For Hajj

An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised the Kebbi State government’s decision to approve a N10 billion loan for an additional 1,300 hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage.

MURIC’s executive director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, in a statement yesterday, advised the state government to rearrange its priorities by focusing on education, health, roads, poverty alleviation and job creation for Kebbi youths, rather than competing with other states in the number of pilgrims.

“We see this as a gross misplacement of priorities. Islam does not compel all Muslims to go on Hajj. It is only compulsory for Muslims who have the wherewithal (Glorious Qur’an 3;97). We are also not compelled to borrow in order to fulfil this obligation. It is conditional.

“N10 billion can build 40 kilometres of roads in Kebbi. There are no swamps there. A mid-sized general hospital typically costs between N250 million and N1.5 billion for the structure. Governor Idris could have provided the people of Kebbi with at least five general hospitals for that amount.

“If it is true that Kebbi planned to rehabilitate seven hospitals with N4 billion in December 2025, how can we explain borrowing a humongous amount of N10 billion to sponsor people on hajj? Who is going to repay that loan?

“Again, if the Kebbi government set aside N8.9 billion to construct 120 schools in December 2023, how can we explain borrowing N10 billion to sponsor hajj?‎

‎”Kebbi must rearrange its priorities. Education, health, roads, security, and other essential services should be top priorities. They are capable of transforming society and making life more meaningful and abundant.

“We therefore advise the state government to rearrange its priorities by focusing attention on education, health, roads, poverty alleviation and the provision of jobs for Kebbi youths instead of competing with other states in the number of pilgrims.

‎‎”Once again, we reiterate our call on both federal and state governments to leave the operation of hajj to the Muslims and their Islamic organisations. The Federal Government only needs to handle protocol matters. It should stop sponsoring hajj.”