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By Oscar Okhifo, Abuja
Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, has approved a controversial allocation of ₦3.02 billion in public funds to sponsor 357 Muslim pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj, drawing criticism over the prioritization of religious obligation amid widespread infrastructural decay.
Despite the state’s crumbling healthcare system, dilapidated schools, and struggling economy, the governor’s administration is pressing ahead with the full sponsorship, covering travel, accommodation, and other associated expenses for the pilgrims.
Governor Bago defended the decision, citing it as a means of easing financial pressure on citizens fulfilling a key religious obligation.
This is a continuation of a pattern from previous years, including his 2024 gesture where he personally gave each of around 3,000 pilgrims 200 Saudi Riyals during the Hajj as a Sallah gift.
The Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board, tasked with organizing the trip, has reportedly modernized its payment and logistics systems to ensure accountability in managing the substantial funds.
However, the move has sparked widespread public backlash. Citizens and civil society groups are questioning whether Niger and other Nigerian states are drifting toward theocratic governance, using state resources to fund religious practices.
Critics argue that religion should remain a personal affair and that public funds are better spent on pressing developmental needs.
As preparations for the 2025 Hajj intensify, debate continues over the wisdom in prioritizing spiritual travel over critical social services in a state where poverty bestrodes the space like a colossus, where underdevelopment is as conspicuous as daylight.