Kebbi Govt Debunks Sahara Reporters’ ‘Misleading’ N10bn Hajj Fund Story

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The Kebbi State Government has dismissed as misleading and unbalanced a report published by Sahara Reporters on December 8, 2025, titled “Kebbi Allocates N10 Billion for 1,300 Hajj Seats, Exceeds Water, Health, Education Budgets Combined.”

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Yahaya Sarki, the government described the publication as inaccurate and deliberately crafted to misinform the public and tarnish the image of Governor Nasir Idris’ administration.

According to the statement, the ₦10 billion referenced by Sahara Reporters is not a budgetary allocation for Hajj activities but a recoverable loan granted to the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency. The loan, it explained, will be fully repaid once intending pilgrims complete their payments.

The intervention, the government said, was approved to enable the Agency meet the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)’s December 5 deadline for the payment of 2026 Hajj fares nationwide. At the deadline, Kebbi still had 1,300 unpaid seats out of the 3,300 allocated to the state.

To avoid losing the slots, the government purchased the outstanding seats, creating an additional 10-day window for intending pilgrims to secure their places for the 2026 pilgrimage.

Executive Chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro, had earlier explained that the governor’s approval was based on compassion and the administration’s commitment to ensuring citizens are not denied the opportunity to perform Hajj.

The state government stressed that the ₦10bn loan does not constitute government expenditure and in no way affects allocations to critical sectors such as health, education, and water resources.

To counter Sahara Reporters’ claims, the statement provided the actual 2025 budget allocations:

• Ministry for Basic & Secondary Education – ₦40.29bn
• Ministry for Higher Education – ₦16.30bn
• Ministry of Health – ₦53.56bn

These figures amount to a combined total of ₦110.16bn, far exceeding the recoverable ₦10bn loan.

The government described Sahara Reporters’ comparison of a temporary loan with capital budget allocations as “mischievous, ill-willed, and intentionally misleading.”

It further noted that in less than three years, the administration has made significant investments in key sectors to address longstanding decay and improve service delivery across the state.

The statement criticized Sahara Reporters for failing to contact the government or relevant agencies before publishing the report, calling the omission a breach of basic journalistic ethics.

As a predominantly Muslim state, Kebbi affirmed its commitment to supporting citizens in fulfilling religious obligations without compromising development priorities.

The government demanded a retraction and public apology from Sahara Reporters, urging the platform to uphold responsible journalism.

Governor Nasir Idris reassured citizens of his administration’s dedication to prudent financial management, socioeconomic development, and the overall wellbeing of the people.