Five states; Kogi, Kebbi, Jigawa, Bauchi, and Kano states, have subsidised Hajj fares for 10,260 intending pilgrims for the 2024 exercise, with a combined sum of N9,120,997,990 billion.

The subsidy payments by the various states’ governments follow the announcement of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, asking already registered pilgrims to pay an additional sum of N1.9m to balance up fares for the 2024 exercise, in accordance with current foreign exchange rates.

With the deadline for the payment given as March 28, the 48,414 pilgrims had only about 72 hours between the time of the announcement of the increase to either come up with the funds to secure their seats or apply for a refund of their money.

In the days that followed the expiration of the deadline, Kogi State Government under Governor Ahmed Ododo was the first to announce full payments of the sum for its 460 pilgrims.

The Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, also announced a N500,000 subsidy for each of its 2,906 pilgrims, followed by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who announced a subsidy of N959,000 for the 2,290 pilgrims in the state, while Jigawa and Kebbi state governments also subsidised fares with N1m each for its 1,260 and 3,344 pilgrims respectively.

There are also reports that the Rivers State Government paid the total fare for the intending pilgrims, while the Osun State Government subsidised the fares with an undisclosed amount.

The subsidies given by the states are beside the N90bn subsidy allegedly given by the Federal Government to reduce the burden of the fares on the intending pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the states have a combined debt profile of N382.9bn, with Kogi indebted to the tune of N54.3bn, Kebbi N40.8bn, Jigawa N26.2bn, Bauchi N170.4bn, and Kano N101.3bn, as of June 2023, according to the official website of the Debt Management Office.

This, however, will not be the first time governors have sponsored citizens on pilgrimage.

Between 2022 and 2023, 13 state governors spent N14.84bn to sponsor about 4,771 persons on both Muslim and Christian pilgrimages.

A resident of the FCT told our correspondent on the condition of anonymity that “all in all, N5bn set aside for thousands of students and N90bn earmarked for pilgrim subsidy. This can only happen in a country where leaders have no regard for quality education but believe in presenting fake certificates”.

Another respondent, who simply identified himself as Michael, expressed annoyance with the development, stating, “It’s annoying to see government on this path. Why subsidise for the rich who can afford to go on pilgrimage, either Christian or Muslim? Instead subsidise the price of food and transportation, which is what mostly affect the masses”.

Meanwhile, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria has disclosed that over 50,000 pilgrims have completed payments for the 2024 Hajj exercise under the government quota.

NAHCON made the disclosure in a statement by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Fatima Usara, on Saturday.

According to the statement, the official number of pilgrims now stood at 51,477 after the close of registration for the year’s exercise.

A breakdown of the numbers revealed the sub-total from Borno, Adamawa, Yola, Taraba and Yobe states as 5,492 pilgrims; northern sub-total, 36,261 pilgrims; Southern sub-total, 6,310 pilgrims, while the remaining 3,384 pilgrims were from the Hajj Savings Scheme and others, making the total 51,447.

Usara thanked the Federal Government for its “leading role” and “numerous sacrifices”, towards easing the burdens of the intending pilgrims, while also appreciating State governors and other stakeholders for providing support.

Source: https://punchng.com/Hajj-Five-states-with-N383bn-debt-budget-N9bn-for-pilgrims

Jesus is Lord

Bunch of unserious leaders. If there's breakout of cholera tomorrow, same states will be writing Bill Gates foundation to come and help them out.

We Nigerians are not serious at all.

Some being sponsored are going for prostitution o.
Ask those governors to budget just 2Billion for education (even Arabic education to get them employment in Saudi Arabia) they'd never.
They prefer to waste it annually.

If Governors down South decide to be stupid like them, they'd start shouting marginalization.

See how they were fighting just to wear hijab in private schools.

When we say Nigeria has no future, this is one of the reasons. Blowing hundreds of billions on a non-productive pilgrimage while most government schools are a bit better than a pigsty.

Chai
God, for my next life I no wan come Nigeria again

Isn't it obvious that the money budgeted for Ramadan is just a scheme to siphone money

helinues:
Isn't it obvious that the money budgeted for Ramadan is just a scheme to siphone money

So this is why you are rejecting my job offer?

Hmmm. Can this country be redeemed?

Very funny

I remembered when Okonjo Iweala lectured some of our senators and house of reps on prudent financial dealing during the time of Jonathan.

Why sponsor people to hajj if they don't have the money? Many governors see that position as the only avenue to steal including the people at the presidency.

A nation that isn't financially sufficient yet spend money recklessly...no wonder the country isn't making progress despites the huge sums of money being realised daily.

Spending more than u earn.

Yes by Obi you love to hate!

CodeTemplar:
Hmmm. Can this country be redeemed?

DMerciful:
Yes by Obi you love to hate!

idiotic talk.

It is what it is!

You know Obi will fix Nigeria but you'd prefer to cut your nose to spite your face. Enjoy your Amoda

CodeTemplar:
idiotic talk.

DMerciful:
It is what it is!

You know Obi will fix Nigeria but you'd prefer to cut your nose to spite your face. Enjoy your Amoda

How fixed is Anambra?
I don't have time for stupid talk about candidates and political partties. Stop sounding idiotic and too assuming who loves or hates peterObi.

The reason why you're throwing insults is because a nerve has been touched by the truth. You guys will learn!

CodeTemplar:
How fixed is Anambra?
I don't have time for stupid talk about candidates and political partties. Stop sounding idiotic and too assuming who loves or hates peterObi.

Just imagine this wastage and injustice. And the southern governors and NASS members goes to the same FEC meetings or deliberations to share the same allocations these religious fanatics are wasting on pilgrimage? This nation needs to be dissolved.

What's the use of these thing seff

Unserious country

Wives

Misplaced priorities

Subsidies the rich why they poor suffer

My wahala is that the money spent was generated in the south.
And the south is 90% Christian.

Kogi and Benue State, i no know who do una sha.

For Benue na pride go and i no want make person get pass me. Na wetin the kill una but i wonder the slogan of a Tiv man that said ' Ya na angbian - Chop give brother'

As for Kogi, the former Attah Igala (the father of Inikpi) cursed them sha so it is understood.


I said this because, to develop the hard the two state yet the have abundance of any natural resources you can think of that will make them compete favourably with any 'Class A State' in Nigeria but it is either they're embezzling or wasting money on a very useless project. Go to Nassarawa and see what Tank Almakura and Bello have turned tht state into. You will be shocked.

Kogi and Benue, which way na.

If those 9,000 people are from different families, how much ll each of them get if they are given that money for biz?
That's N1m each. Nigeria is doing herself with self inflicted injury. Religion isn't our problem but economy.
Let their be food instead of religion!
And it's that same north wey hunger don kpai a lot that do this the most! Is this for gaining votes during election or what?
Cos the mumu people always remember freebies like this to vote. They don't remember that economic development supersedes religion. Religion is individual conviction.

We never ready for national development. Let them keep projecting RELIGIONS above real national developments, maybe God will come down to develop our infrastructure sha.

This should be banned

Who do we offend like this? Naija has gone for good, her problem is irredeemable 😭😭😭

madridguy:
Bunch of serious leaders. If there's breakout of cholera tomorrow, same states will be writing Bill Gates foundation to come and help them out.

We Nigerians are not serious at all.

Na you and your followers no dey serious! Remove the "We. " Meanwhile, the Zoo had never been a serious country before and won't be

Please,of what economic value is this pilgrimage is to Nigeria? I'm curious,and I wanna know.

Religion has really blinded Northern Nigeria

......