The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has criticised the Kebbi State Government over its decision to take a N10 billion loan to secure an additional 1,300 Hajj slots for the 2026 pilgrimage, describing the move as a misplacement of priorities.
In a statement issued on Monday by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, the Islamic advocacy group said the state government should focus more on addressing pressing socio-economic challenges rather than increasing the number of pilgrims.
According to MURIC, critical sectors such as education, healthcare, infrastructure and job creation require urgent attention, warning that borrowing heavily to sponsor pilgrimage does not align with the immediate needs of the people.
“Islam does not compel Muslims to go on Hajj unless they have the means. Borrowing huge sums for the pilgrimage is a misplacement of priorities,” Akintola said.
The organisation questioned the rationale behind taking a N10 billion loan for Hajj sponsorship, arguing that such a sum could be better deployed to fund major road projects, build or equip general hospitals, or improve schools across the state.
MURIC also expressed concern over the long-term implications of the loan, asking who would ultimately bear the burden of repayment and whether it would further strain the state’s finances.
The group noted that the decision appeared inconsistent with previous government spending aimed at hospital rehabilitation and school construction, which it said offered more direct and lasting benefits to residents.
It urged the Kebbi State Government to reassess its priorities, stressing that investments in education, healthcare, security, poverty alleviation and youth employment would have a far greater impact on the welfare of the people.
MURIC further called on both federal and state governments to withdraw from direct sponsorship of the Hajj, recommending that the exercise be left to individual Muslims and Islamic organisations, with government involvement limited strictly to coordination and protocol.
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