Governor Umar Namadi approves the refund after the state’s pilgrims welfare board returned surplus funds from the 2026 pilgrimage

The Jigawa State Government has approved a ₦53,853 refund for each pilgrim who performed the 2026 Hajj, after the Jigawa State Pilgrims Welfare Board returned surplus funds from the pilgrimage operation to the state treasury on Friday, August 7, 2026.

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The approval was announced in Dutse, the Jigawa State capital, by the board’s Executive Secretary, Umar Labbo, while presenting the 2026 Hajj Committee’s report to Governor Umar Namadi at the Government House.

Labbo said the refund followed the board’s reconciliation of funds used during the pilgrimage and the subsequent return of unspent money to the government.

“Out of the amount, the government approved ₦53,853, approximately ₦55,000, as a refund to each pilgrim who performed this year’s Hajj,” Labbo said.

The board also remitted a further ₦27.2 million to the state government’s treasury as additional unspent funds from the exercise.

The development gives pilgrims a direct financial benefit from the surplus recorded after the operation, while also providing the state government with an opportunity to highlight the financial management of this year’s pilgrimage.

Jigawa’s 2026 Hajj Committee, chaired by the Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Hameem Nuhu, was described by Labbo as the most successful in the state’s history.

“The 2026 Hajj operation was exceptional and surpassed all previous Hajj exercises conducted by the state,” he said.

Labbo also singled out the introduction of eye care services for Jigawa pilgrims in Saudi Arabia as one of the notable additions to this year’s operation.

He credited the initiative to the leadership of the Emir of Dutse, describing it as a significant achievement for pilgrims who required medical attention during their stay.

The state’s wider financial commitment to the exercise was also highlighted.

Labbo said the government provided a ₦3.4 billion loan to the Pilgrims Welfare Board, which helped finance and manage the 2026 Hajj operation.

Jigawa’s State Executive Council had approved the ₦3.4 billion loan in September 2025 to enable the board to secure its Hajj seat allocation early and prepare for the pilgrimage.

The approval was presented as part of efforts to ensure a smooth and well-organised operation.

The state later approved more than ₦2.65 billion for the 2026 Hajj operation in December 2025, with the funding covering logistics, welfare, medical services and administrative arrangements.

Labbo said the welfare arrangements extended to accommodation and feeding, noting that Jigawa pilgrims were housed close to the Holy Mosque in Makkah and provided with meals throughout their stay.

He also acknowledged the contribution of Islamic scholars and Local Government Centre Officers, who supported the pilgrims at the grassroots level before and during the pilgrimage.

The Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Hameem Nuhu, used the presentation to call for a permanent Hajj transit facility in Jigawa.

He urged the state government to establish a dedicated camp for the Pilgrims Welfare Board rather than continuing to rely on the NYSC orientation camp, which may also be required for members of the National Youth Service Corps.

“I urge the state government to establish a permanent Hajj transit camp for the Pilgrims Welfare Board instead of relying on the NYSC orientation camp, which is sometimes needed for corps members during Hajj preparations,” the emir said.

The proposal reflects one of the practical challenges associated with preparing large numbers of intending pilgrims before their departure for Saudi Arabia, particularly when existing public facilities have competing uses.

Governor Umar Namadi, in his response to the report, praised the committee for what he described as its dedication to the welfare of Jigawa pilgrims.

“I commend the committee, particularly the Emir of Dutse, for the dedication and leadership demonstrated in ensuring the success of the 2026 Hajj exercise,” Namadi said.

The governor described the Emir of Dutse as an exemplary leader and said the state had established a strong record in pilgrim welfare.

Namadi also confirmed the government’s decision to return the surplus directly to pilgrims.

“The state government, through the pilgrims welfare board, will refund ₦55,000 to every Jigawa pilgrim as the approved excess Hajj fare refund for the 2026 pilgrimage,” he said.

While the board specified the precise approved amount as ₦53,853, the governor referred to the refund as approximately ₦55,000.

The difference reflects the distinction between the exact calculated refund and the rounded figure used in the governor’s remarks.

The refund follows a broader pattern of Jigawa placing emphasis on advance financing and welfare arrangements for its pilgrims.

The state’s earlier ₦3.4 billion loan approval was intended to help the Pilgrims Welfare Board secure its allocation and prepare ahead of the 2026 pilgrimage.

For pilgrims who completed the journey, the return of surplus funds adds a welcome financial conclusion to an operation that state officials have presented as a particularly successful one.

For the government, however, the next challenge will be turning the lessons from the 2026 exercise into lasting improvements, particularly the Emir of Dutse’s proposal for a permanent transit camp.

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The immediate outcome remains the refund. Each eligible Jigawa pilgrim is expected to receive ₦53,853 from the surplus generated during the 2026 Hajj operation, alongside the state’s reported return of ₦27.2 million in additional unspent funds to its treasury.