Kebbi Govt Pays N10bn for Additional 1, 300 Hajj Seats
Faruku Aliyu Yaro
Kebbi State Goverment has paid for 1,300 additional Hajj seats to beat the December 5th deadline for the completion of the payment of the 2026 Hajj fares.
The Syndicate reports that Governor Nasir Idris approved the release of ₦10 billion for the Hajj seats to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).
NAHCON allocated 3,300 Hajj seats to Kebbi State for the 2026 Hajj, but only 2,110 intending pilgrims were able to complete their payments before the official deadline.
“To prevent the forfeiture of the remaining seats, the Pilgrims Welfare Agency sought the intervention of Governor Idris, who graciously approved a loan of ₦10 billion to secure them.
“This gives more intending pilgrims the opportunity to participate in the 2026 Hajj,” the Executive Chairman of the Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro, said during a press briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Saturday.
He announced that the 1,300 newly secured seats are now available for interested Muslims across the state to purchase within the next ten days.
According to him, payment can be made either at the Agency’s headquarters in Birnin Kebbi or at designated Hajj offices in each of the 21 Local Government Areas.
The cost per seat is ₦7.6 million, and allocation will be on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alhaji Faruku expressed the Agency’s gratitude to Governor Idris for his foresight and timely support, noting that the state would have lost the seats without the intervention.
He further explained that with the payment now internalised at the state level, the Agency has extended the deadline by ten days to enable more intending pilgrims to secure the seats.
He also revealed that NAHCON has released the schedule for the 2026 Hajj operations, with the inaugural flight from Nigeria set for 3rd May 2026, during which Kebbi State is expected to feature prominently.
“As in 2025, Flynas Airline will handle the airlift of Kebbi pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia”, he announced.
The Chairman advised intending pilgrims to familiarise themselves with the new guidelines issued by NAHCON and Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
He emphasised that compulsory medical screening will be conducted to ensure pilgrims are free of nine specified ailments.
“Anyone who tests positive will be denied entry into Saudi Arabia and immediately returned to Nigeria. Similar checks will take place upon arrival in Madinah or Jeddah,” he warned.
He also warned pilgrims to desist from carrying banned items, including kolanuts and cigarettes, noting that some offenders from previous exercises are currently serving jail terms in the Saudi Kingdom.
Kebbi State, he reaffirmed, is committed to maintaining its leading position in organisation, conduct, and number of pilgrims nationwide.
He urged intending pilgrims to be law-abiding and to conduct themselves with dignity both at home and in the Holy Land.
