The Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Umar Bago, has spent ₦3.02 billion from public funds to sponsor 357 Muslim faithful for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
This decision comes despite the state’s struggling healthcare system, which has been plagued by power outages, inadequate funding, and equipment failures.
The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) had set the fare for northern pilgrims at ₦8,457,685.59 per person. With the Niger State government sponsoring 357 pilgrims, the total expenditure amounts to approximately ₦3.02 billion.
The state’s hospitals, such as Minna General Hospital, have struggled with power outages, leading to preventable deaths. In December 2024, a three-day power outage resulted in the deaths of six newborns.
Additionally, a recent incident at Jummai Babangida Aliyu General Hospital in Minna highlighted the ongoing issues with the state’s healthcare facilities, where a woman died during surgery due to a power failure and malfunctioning backup generator.
The governor’s decision to sponsor the Hajj pilgrims has raised eyebrows amid the state’s healthcare difficulties.
While the sponsorship was announced as part of the government’s commitment to ensuring the state’s Muslim population can participate in the 2025 Hajj, critics argue that the funds could have been better utilized to address the state’s pressing healthcare needs.
The 2025 Hajj pilgrimage is expected to take place from June 4 to June 9, 2025.
