An Islamic human rights organisation, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has criticised the Kebbi State Government for approving a ₦10 billion loan to secure an additional 1,300 Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage, described the move as a gross misplacement of priorities.
In a press statement issued on Monday, January 12, 2026, and signed by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC faulted the decision of the state government under Governor Nasir Idris, urged it to focus more on critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, poverty alleviation and job creation.
According to the organisation, Islam does not compel Muslims to perform Hajj unless they have the financial capacity to do so, stressing that borrowing public funds to sponsor pilgrims contradicts the spiritual and conditional nature of the obligation.
“We see this as gross misplacement of priorities. Islam does not compel all Muslims to go on Hajj. It is only compulsory for Muslims who have the wherewithal. We are also not compelled to borrow in order to fulfil this obligation; it is conditional,” the statement read.
MURIC argued that the ₦10 billion earmarked for the Hajj loan could have been better utilised to address pressing developmental needs in the state. It noted that the amount could construct about 40 kilometres of roads in Kebbi State, adding that with the same funds, at least five general hospitals could be built, given that a mid-sized hospital typically costs between ₦250 million and ₦1.5 billion.
The group further questioned the logic behind borrowing such a large sum for Hajj sponsorship when, according to reports, the Kebbi State Government planned to rehabilitate seven hospitals with ₦4 billion in December 2025 and had earlier set aside ₦8.9 billion in December 2023 for the construction of 120 schools.
“How can we explain borrowing a humongous amount of ₦10 billion to sponsor people on Hajj? Who is going to repay that loan?” MURIC queried.
The organisation called on the Kebbi State Government to urgently reassess its priorities, insisted that investments in education, healthcare, roads, security and job creation are more capable of transforming society and improving the quality of life of citizens.
MURIC also reiterated its long-standing call on both the federal and state governments to withdraw from direct sponsorship of Hajj, argued that the exercise should be left to individual Muslims and Islamic organisations, while government involvement should be limited to protocol and regulatory matters.
“The Federal Government only needs to handle protocol matters. It should stop sponsoring Hajj,” the statement added.
