How the FG and states allocated N120bn to pilgrimage expenses over three years

Investigations reveals that the Federal Government and at least 21 states spent N119.9 billion on subsidies for Christian and Muslim pilgrimages over the past three years.

This figure was calculated from media reports detailing the pilgrimage sponsorship amounts provided by the Federal Government and various states from 2022 to 2024.

In 2022, eight governors from Enugu, Delta, Taraba, Bauchi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Gombe, and Zamfara states collectively spent N4.94 billion on both Christian and Muslim pilgrimages. Specifically, Enugu sponsored 300 pilgrims, Delta 312, Taraba 163, Bauchi 199, Nasarawa 117, Plateau 420, Gombe 29, and Zamfara 1,400. Additionally, Lagos State spent over $1.2 million on Basic Travel Allowance for 1,562 Muslim pilgrims.

In 2023, eight state governors (Imo, Enugu, Adamawa, Lagos, Borno, Edo, Kano, and Ogun) spent N2.53 billion on Christian pilgrimages and N7.35 billion on Muslim pilgrimages, totaling N9.88 billion. Notably, Imo funded 1,000 Christian pilgrims, Enugu 300, Adamawa 120, Lagos 170, and Borno 101. Adamawa covered all 2,574 of its Muslim pilgrims, while Edo sponsored 40 for Hajj. Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf allocated N65 million for 6,166 Hajj pilgrims, and Ogun provided logistical support.

For 2024, President Bola Tinubu and 14 state governors (Plateau, Kano, Katsina, Lagos, Borno, Zamfara, Nasarawa, Ogun, Sokoto, Kwara, Kogi, Kebbi, Jigawa, and Bauchi) spent N105 billion on Hajj pilgrimages. Vice-President Shettima announced in May that President Tinubu contributed N90 billion to subsidize the 2024 Hajj. The Kogi State Government was the first to fully fund the pilgrimage costs for its 460 pilgrims.

Governor Yusuf also announced a N500,000 subsidy for each of the 2,906 pilgrims from his state. In Bauchi State, Governor Bala Mohammed revealed a subsidy of N959,000 for 2,290 pilgrims, while Jigawa and Kebbi states each subsidized their pilgrims with N1 million, benefiting 1,260 and 3,344 pilgrims, respectively.

The Ogun State Government covered a shortfall of N119,560,712 in the Basic Travel Allowance for its Muslim pilgrims, caused by unexpected fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, according to Chief Press Secretary Lekan Adeniran.

Similarly, Katsina State Governor Dikko Radda provided each pilgrim with 720 Saudi riyal to support their pilgrimage. With 2,600 pilgrims registered, this amounts to a total of 1,872,000 Saudi riyal, equivalent to N733,093,920 based on the May exchange rate of N391.61 per riyal.

In June, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq gifted $100 to each of the 3,102 pilgrims. This totals $310,200, or N456,614,400 at an exchange rate of N1,472 per dollar.

Also in June, Sokoto State Governor Ahmed Aliyu approved 1,000 Saudi riyal for each of the 3,643 pilgrims from the state, amounting to a total of 3,643,000 Saudi riyal, which converts to N1,429,003,180 based on the June exchange rate of N392.26 per riyal.