MAHDI SHEHU CRITICIZES KEBBI GOVERNMENT’S 10 BILLION HAJJ LOAN PLAN AS MISPLACED PRIORITY
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By: Muftau Fatimo
Political analyst Mahdi Shehu has slammed the Kebbi State Government’s proposal to provide a ₦10 billion loan to prospective Hajj pilgrims, calling it a misplaced priority in a state facing widespread poverty and deteriorating infrastructure.
Posting on X on Monday, Shehu criticised the scheme.
“The intending pilgrims will do better to perform one of the Hajj rituals; stoning the devil by stoning the person deceiving them with this Hajj loan, who qualifies as the ‘bigger devil.’”
He further accused the government of exploiting religious sentiment to mislead citizens, many of whom struggle to meet basic needs.
“They are using religious sentiment to deceive vulnerable people. Those who cannot even afford daily necessities are being offered loans for pilgrimage. This is simply ill-advised,” he wrote.
In a state where poverty is at 75 percent, over 2 million children are out of school, hospitals and schools are dilapidated, township and feeder roads are poor, clean drinking water is lacking, gratuities are unpaid, youth unemployment is high, children are learning on the floor, essential drugs are unavailable, and primary health centres have collapsed, this is pure madness and illiteracy,” Shehu wrote.
Shehu’s criticism comes in response to Kebbi State Governor Dr. Nasir Idris’ approval of a N10 billion intervention to assist intending pilgrims ahead of the 2026 Hajj, following a shortfall in payments for allocated seats.
The Executive Chairman of the Kebbi State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Alhaji Faruku Aliyu Yaro, revealed on Saturday that the decision was made because many prospective pilgrims in the state were unable to meet the payment deadline.
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