The Kebbi Government has approved a subsidy allocation of N3.34 billion for 3,344 prospective pilgrims to this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia from the state. This decision was made at an emergency Executive Council Meeting presided over by Deputy Governor Umar Abubakar-Tafida in Birnin Kebbi.
The subsidy is to complete the payment of additional fares of about N2 million announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON). Each pilgrim will receive a donation from the government to facilitate the complete payment of the fares before the closure date.
Commissioner for Information and Culture, Yakubu Ahmad, highlighted that this gesture reflects the commitment of Gov. Nasir Idris to uphold religious values for societal peace and tranquility. The Kebbi Government has offset N1 million for each pilgrim, with the remaining balance to be paid by the individual pilgrim.
In response to recent incidents of looting in food stores, a 13-member committee has been established to investigate the matter. The committee, chaired by Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Shehu Mu’azu, will identify the causes of the incident, the individuals or groups involved, and provide recommendations to prevent future occurrences.
Mu’azu mentioned that most of the rice stolen from the warehouse belonged to Birnin Kebbi Local Government and was part of the palliatives distributed by the state government to the 21 local government areas. Security operatives managed to recover over 2,000 bags of rice from the looters and returned them to safekeeping.
The committee has been given a five-day timeframe to complete their investigation and advise the government on preventive measures. This proactive approach aims to safeguard against similar incidents in the future.
