Jigawa Approves N3.5bn Loan to Secure 2027 Hajj Seats
By Abdulrazaq Auwal
The Jigawa State Executive Council has approved a N3.5 billion loan for the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board to secure the state’s allocation for the 2027 Hajj and support preparations for the pilgrimage.
The approval, announced in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Board’s Public Relations Officer, Habibu Yusuf Babura, described the intervention as a strategic measure to guarantee Hajj seats for intending pilgrims while ensuring smooth operational planning ahead of the pilgrimage.
According to the statement, the loan will enable prospective pilgrims to meet the initial financial requirements for securing their Hajj seats before Saudi Arabia’s deadline.
The Board said the approval reflects Governor Umar Namadi’s commitment to religious affairs and his determination to make the Hajj process more accessible for citizens of the state.
Director-General of the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Ahmad Umar Labbo, expressed appreciation to the governor for approving the facility, describing the intervention as a demonstration of confidence in the Board’s operations.
Labbo said Jigawa had distinguished itself as one of the few states providing direct financial support and operational backing to intending pilgrims, adding that the initiative would help protect the state’s Hajj allocation for 2027.
Jigawa Approves N3.5bn Loan to Secure 2027 Hajj Seats
He assured intending pilgrims and the government that the Board would manage the funds transparently and apply them strictly for the purpose approved by the Executive Council.
The Director-General also attributed the government’s continued support to the Board’s record of promptly repaying previous intervention funds immediately after collecting deposits from registered pilgrims.
According to him, the Board’s consistent financial discipline has strengthened the government’s confidence, making it easier to obtain support without resorting to interest-bearing bank loans or other financing options.
Labbo urged all intending pilgrims in the state to complete their initial Hajj seat deposits without delay, noting that Saudi authorities have fixed September as the final deadline for payment to secure places for the 2027 pilgrimage.
He warned that failure to meet the deadline could jeopardise prospective pilgrims’ chances of participating in the 2027 Hajj.
