AfriPulse
Kebbi state government has approved a 10 billion bailout to boost the state’s allocation for the 2026 Hajj, following an alarming shortfall in payments by intending pilgrims.
The Executive Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro, confirmed the development at the weekend, saying many intending pilgrims were unable to meet the required payment deadline before the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria closed the sale of seats on December 6.
Yaro explained that without the governor’s intervention, Kebbi risked losing over 1,000 Hajj slots. The state had recorded only about 2,000 fully paid pilgrims, far below its usual annual figure.
He attributed the drop to the sharp crash in food crop prices, noting that nearly 60 per cent of Kebbi’s pilgrims are farmers who depend on seasonal harvest sales to fund their pilgrimage. Others affected include civil servants and small business owners.
“The 10 billion support has opened a fresh window for more intending pilgrims. We are grateful to Governor Idris for this timely and generous gesture”
Yaro warned intending pilgrims to strictly undergo compulsory medical screening, stressing that any attempt to evade the process could lead to deportation or a long-term ban by Saudi authorities, who now enforce tighter health regulations for all entrants.
Source: TheWhistler | Read the Full Story…
