Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has commended the ongoing reforms at the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON, particularly the improvements recorded in the airlift of pilgrims to the Holy Land and their safe return to Nigeria.
Governor Idris made the commendation when he received a delegation from NAHCON, led by the National Commissioner in charge of the North-West and Board Member, Sheikh Muhammad bin Uthman, who paid a courtesy visit to him in Birnin Kebbi as part of preparations for the 2027 Hajj operation.
The Governor said the reforms introduced by the Commission demonstrated that knowledgeable and committed individuals had been entrusted with the responsibility of managing the affairs of NAHCON.
He commended the Commission’s leadership for being proactive and alive to its responsibilities, assuring that Kebbi State would continue to collaborate with NAHCON to improve Hajj operations.
Governor Idris also expressed the state’s readiness to embrace further reforms, including the proposed involvement of private operators in the organisation of Hajj operations.
The Governor attributed Kebbi State’s consistently high number of pilgrims to the administration’s economic empowerment programmes, particularly its sustained support for farmers.
He said the government had distributed agricultural inputs and equipment, including fertiliser, power tillers, solar-powered irrigation pumps, CNG pumps and herbicides, to farmers free of charge.
According to him, the interventions have improved the purchasing power of residents and contributed to the increasing number of people from the state undertaking the pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
Governor Idris further disclosed that his administration had continued to pay the Hadyah for Kebbi pilgrims as part of measures to reduce the financial burden associated with the pilgrimage.
He assured that the state government would sustain the gesture throughout his tenure, saying Kebbi pilgrims would continue to have their Hadyah paid for by the government.
The Governor explained that the initiative was part of his administration’s commitment to supporting the people, particularly pilgrims who travel to the Holy Land to worship and pray for the peace and prosperity of Nigeria and Kebbi State.
Earlier, the leader of the NAHCON delegation, Sheikh Muhammad bin Uthman, conveyed the greetings of the Commission’s Chairman, Ismai Abba, and commended Governor Idris and the Kebbi State Government for their commitment to the welfare of pilgrims.
Sheikh Muhammad said the delegation was visiting states across the country to engage governors and other stakeholders ahead of the 2027 Hajj operation.
He stressed that state governors remained critical stakeholders in ensuring a successful and hitch-free Hajj exercise.
In his remarks, the Executive Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruk Aliyu, disclosed that Kebbi had so far recorded the highest number of registered pilgrims in Nigeria, with 3,257 pilgrims registered for the 2027 Hajj.
He added that the state had remitted 21.5 billion naira to the NAHCON account and was expected to remit an additional five billion naira shortly.