The Kebbi State Government has clarified that the N10 billion referenced in a recent statement by the Muslim Rights Concern was not a subsidy or diversion of public funds for Hajj sponsorshipbut a short-term loan extended to intending pilgrims to meet a strict National Hajj Commission of Nigeria payment deadline.

The clarification came at a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Tuesday, where the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Alhaji Yakubu Ahmed, said the funds were advanced through the state’s Pilgrims Welfare Agency on a recoverable basis and were fully refunded to government coffers within eleven days.

According to Ahmed, NAHCON fixed December 5, 2025, as the final date for full payment for the 2026 Hajj. By that deadline, Kebbi State had recorded approximately 2,000 fully paid pilgrims, while about 1,300 other intending pilgrims had only made partial deposits.

Ahmed explained that the short-term intervention ensured that the unpaid balances did not cost the state its formally allocated Hajj slots.

“Many of the affected pilgrims are seasonal farmers and traders, whose ability to meet the deadline was dependent on returns from late-year harvests and market activities,” he stated.

He said repayment of the N10 billion was completed on December 16, 2025, adding that supporting documentation—including bank and agency records—was available for verification.

The commissioner disclosed that the intervention raised the state’s total number of fully paid pilgrims to 3,629 for the forthcoming Hajj, making Kebbi the second-highest contributor nationally and among the first batch approved for airlift.