Ebonyi State Govt Clarifies Hajj Funding Amidst Controversy

The Ebonyi State Government has issued a statement correcting an earlier report on the funding of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.

According to the statement, signed by Engr Jude Chikadibia Okpor, Hon. Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, the government will sponsor 20 pilgrims, while the Local Government Areas will sponsor 13 pilgrims, one from each LGA.

The statement revealed that the Ebonyi Executive Council made the decision during its meeting on Friday, February 7, 2025. The council also approved the sponsorship of statutory nominees, including a medical doctor, a female nurse, a cook, and security agents, as required by Hajj regulations.

“Following the request by the Ebonyi State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board that the state government sponsors 46 Muslim Pilgrims to the 2025 Hajj, the Ebonyi Executive Council in its seating of Friday, 7th February, 2025, resolved that the Ebonyi State Government would sponsor 20 pilgrims, the statutory nominees – a medical doctor, a female nurse, a cook and security agents as required by Hajj regulations,” the statement read.

The cost of the Hajj fare for the Southern Zone, as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), stands at N8,626,800, to and fro. However, the total sum is reportedly far below the figure initially reported.

“Others are board members, Imam, Hausa Community, and Yoruba Community. The Local Government Areas, on the other hand, would sponsor 13 pilgrims, one from each LGA. The Hajj fare for the Southern Zone as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) stands at Eight Million Six Hundred and twenty-six thousand eight hundred naira (N8,626,800), to and fro. This is different from other allowances, charges and levies. This cost of airfare is occasioned by the prevailing foreign exchange rate,” the statement explained.

The government acknowledged the error in the earlier report and apologized for the confusion. The statement emphasized Ebonyi State’s reputation for hospitality and accommodation, urging everyone to support the socio-political, economic, and religious inclusivity of the administration.

“While taking responsibility for the error in the earlier report and the concomitant confusion, we wish to state that Ebonyi State is reputed for its hospitality and ever-accommodating spirit. This is not the time to allow sentiment override our true nature. We are not known for religious intolerance. Worthy of mention is the fact that these candidates are mostly our fellow Ebonyians. We urge everyone to support the socio-political, economic and religious inclusivity of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru’s administration. Under FON, Ebonyi is one united family irrespective of religious backgrounds!” the statement concluded.

FULL TEXT

FUNDING OF THE 2025 HAJJ BY THE EBONYI STATE GOVERNMENT: THE TRUE POSITION

Ebonyi State, as we know, is a secular state and hosts a diversity of population, each with different religious inclinations. The state takes into consideration these diversities in relation to its funding of their religious pilgrimage – Christians and Muslims alike. However, there was an obvious error in the computation of the total government expenditure in the sponsorship of the 2025 Hajj as contained in our earlier release.

Meanwhile, following the request by the Ebonyi State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board that the state government sponsors 46 Muslim Pilgrims to the 2025 Hajj, the Ebonyi Executive Council in its seating of Friday, 7th February, 2025, resolved that the Ebonyi State Government would sponsor 20 pilgrims, the statutory nominees – a medical doctor, a female nurse, a cook and security agents as required by Hajj regulations. Others are board members, Imam, Hausa Community, and Yoruba Community. The Local Government Areas, on the other hand, would sponsor 13 pilgrims, one from each LGA.

The Hajj fare for the Southern Zone as announced by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) stands at Eight Million Six Hundred and twenty-six thousand eight hundred naira (N8,626,800), to and fro. This is different from other allowances, charges and levies. This cost of airfare is occasioned by the prevailing foreign exchange rate. However, put together, the total sum is far below the figure erroneously reported earlier.

While taking responsibility for the error in the earlier report and the concomitant confusion, we wish to state that Ebonyi State is reputed for its hospitability and ever-accommodating spirit. This is not the time to allow sentiment override our true nature. We are not known for religious intolerance. Worthy of mention is the fact that these candidates are mostly our fellow Ebonyians.

We urge everyone to support the socio-political, economic and religious inclusivity of the His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru -led administration. Under FON, Ebonyi is one united family irrespective of religious backgrounds!

Engr Jude Chikadibia Okpr, 

Hon. Commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Ebonyi State. 

08/02/2025