To secure an additional 1,300 seats for 2026 Hajj pilgrims, the Kebbi State government has hurriedly coughed up N10 billion in loan, more than what key primary healthcare, water resources agencies have spent in nine months.
Speaking with journalists in Birnin Kebbi, Faruku Aliyu-Yaro, chairman of the State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, said the state loan intervened in mitigating the state’s risk of losing hundreds of Hajj seats following the December 5 deadline set by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
“Many intending pilgrims were already in tears because they thought they would miss the exercise, but the governor stepped in at the most critical moment. He deserves special prayers from the people of Kebbi State,” Aliyu-Yaro said.
In an analysis by FIJ, however, the N10 billion coughed up by the state government is more than it has spent on more important sectors in the state as of September.
In the Kebbi State Q3 budget performance report, important agencies in the state have received way less.
The Primary Healthcare Development Agency, for instance, had a budget of N4.8 billion, but as of September the agency has received N748 million, representing only 15.3 per cent performance.
In July 2025, MonITNG, a public project monitoring platform, called the attention of the Kebbi State government to a dilapidating Jada Primary Healthcare Centre.
“The building is falling apart. The roof has gaping holes, the ceiling is caving in, and wooden supports are dangerously exposed,” the platform highlighted amongst many deficiencies.
“Rainwater seeps through during storms, and patients are left vulnerable under an unsafe structure. There’s no running water, poor sanitation, and zero privacy for women in labour or patients receiving treatment.”
POOR SPENDING ON ACUTE WATER PROBLEMS
The state’s ministry of water resources was planned to spend N9.8 billion in 2025, but as of September, only N843 million had been spent, representing an 8.6 performance rate.
According to a 2024 report by the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, in terms of access to clean water, while Lagos State ranked first at 98 per cent, Kebbi had the lowest score of 31 per cent amongst all 36 states.
Additionally, FIJ also noticed that the amount the state quickly spent to retain its hajj slot dwarfs its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
Between July and September, the state made up to N50.9 billion in revenue, but the state’s IGR only makes up about N4.7 billion of that amount.