MURIC Criticizes Kebbi Government Over ₦10 Billion Loan for 2026 Hajj
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticized the Kebbi State Government for deciding to take a ₦10 billion loan to secure an additional 1,300 Hajj seats for the 2026 pilgrimage.
In a statement released on Monday by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic human rights organization called the move a “gross misplacement of priorities,” urging the government to focus more on education, healthcare, infrastructure, poverty reduction, and job creation.
MURIC pointed out that Islam does not require Muslims to perform Hajj unless they can afford it, and that borrowing money to fund pilgrims goes against Islamic teachings.
“Islam does not compel all Muslims to go on Hajj. It is only compulsory for Muslims who have the wherewithal (Glorious Qur’an 3:97). We are also not compelled to borrow to fulfill this obligation,” the statement said.
The group questioned the logic of taking such a large loan for pilgrimage when the same funds could be used to tackle critical development needs in the state.
According to MURIC, ₦10 billion could build up to 40 kilometers of roads or create at least five general hospitals, noting that a mid-sized hospital usually costs between ₦250 million and ₦1.5 billion.
The organization also highlighted previous budget allocations by the Kebbi State Government, raising concerns about inconsistent spending priorities.
“If it is true that Kebbi planned to rehabilitate seven hospitals with ₦4 billion in December 2025, how can we justify borrowing ₦10 billion to sponsor people on Hajj? Who is going to repay that loan?” MURIC asked.
Similarly, the group referenced a reported ₦8.9 billion budget for building 120 schools in December 2023, questioning why a larger amount would be borrowed for pilgrimage sponsorship.
MURIC called on the Kebbi State Government to reevaluate its development priorities, warning against competing with other states based on the number of pilgrims sponsored.
“Education, health, roads, security, and jobs can all transform society and make life more meaningful,” the statement added.
The organization also reaffirmed its long-standing position that Hajj operations should be managed solely by Muslim individuals and Islamic organizations, with government involvement limited to protocol and administrative coordination.
“The Federal Government should stop sponsoring Hajj. It only needs to handle protocol matters,” MURIC stated.
The statement ended with hashtags emphasizing their stance, including #NoToBorrowingForHajj and #MisplacedPriorities.
