Kebbi Governor Approves N10bn Intervention to Secure 2026 Hajj Slots

Kebbi State Governor, Dr. Nasir Idris, has approved a N10 billion intervention fund to support intending pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj after many were unable to complete payments for their allocated seats.

The approval was confirmed on Saturday by the Executive Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro, who said the move became necessary after a large number of applicants failed to meet the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria’s payment deadline.

Yaro stated that NAHCON officially closed the sale of Hajj seats on December 6, 2025. To ensure Kebbi did not lose its remaining quota, Governor Idris authorized the release of N10 billion for the procurement of more than 1,000 additional seats for pilgrims.

Before the approval, only about 2,000 intending pilgrims had completed their payments—well below Kebbi’s usual annual figures.

He attributed the drop in numbers to the significant crash in food crop prices, noting that roughly 60 per cent of the state’s intending pilgrims are farmers who depend on proceeds from their harvests to fund the pilgrimage, while others are civil servants and traders.

“With the N10 billion support, we have opened a new window for more intending pilgrims to procure their Hajj seats through the agency. We appreciate the governor’s kind gesture, as it will go a long way in helping us meet our target,” Yaro said.

He also urged all intending pilgrims to complete their mandatory medical screening, stressing that anyone attempting to evade the process could face immediate deportation and possible long-term restrictions from Saudi Arabian authorities due to strict health protocols.

Opinion Nigeria News