Niger revives support for Christian pilgrimage after 10-year suspension

The Niger State Government has begun getting ready for the 2026 Christian pilgrimage, greater than a decade after it suspended authorities sponsorship of pilgrimages due to financial challenges.

The preparations had been disclosed in a report by Northern News printed on Friday, which stated the Niger State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board had begun coordinating preparations for the train below Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago.

The board held a strategic assembly involving its members and employees of the Christian Department at its headquarters in Minna to coordinate preparations and enhance pilgrims’ welfare.

The assembly was convened by the board’s Executive Secretary, Muhammad Aliyu, who was represented by the Director of Administration, Ado Bello.

Mr Bello stated the engagement was supposed to strengthen collaboration between board members and employees in organising the pilgrimage in step with the state authorities’s New Niger Agenda.

He stated the Christian and Muslim departments shared accountability for serving pilgrims, emphasising early planning, accountability, and coordination forward of the 2026 train.

The Christian Department’s Director of Administration, Paul Lawrence, stated preparations would come with mobilising intending pilgrims throughout the state’s 25 native authorities areas and conducting screening in collaboration with related companies.

He stated the division additionally deliberate to supply orientation and religious programmes, enhance lodging and feeding preparations, and strengthen engagement with the Christian Association of Nigeria and church leaders.

Mr Lawrence stated the division would work with the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission to make sure compliance with nationwide pointers, well timed processing of journey paperwork and coordinated airlifting preparations.

He added that safety companies and medical screening groups would vet intending pilgrims and guarantee they met the required well being requirements.

“Measures to prevent abscondment and promote discipline throughout the exercise have been put in place,” he stated, whereas interesting to the board’s administration to maintain operational and monetary support.

The head of the Christian board members, Deborah Salawu, welcomed the preparations and pledged the members’ support for the train.

Background

On 17 May 2016, the administration of former Governor Abubakar Sani Bello suspended state sponsorship of each Muslim and Christian pilgrims travelling to Mecca and Jerusalem, citing Nigeria’s financial challenges and the state’s dwindling income.

In an announcement issued in Minna by his then Chief Press Secretary, Jibrin Ndace, Mr Bello stated the federal government had put the sponsorship of pilgrims to the holy websites on maintain with instant impact.

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“Government is committed to supporting our people in fulfilling their religious obligations, but the dwindling economic fortunes of the state, in the face of other equally people-oriented demands, sponsorship of pilgrims to Hajj and Jerusalem is hereby suspended,” the assertion stated.

The former governor, nonetheless, stated the state would proceed to sponsor officers whose participation was essential to facilitate pilgrimage preparations.

The suspension of presidency sponsorship didn’t cease particular person Muslims from performing Hajj.

Muslim residents continued to register by means of the Niger State Pilgrims’ Welfare Board and journey to Saudi Arabia utilizing private funds.

The Bago administration later resumed direct funding for chosen Muslim pilgrims. For the 2025 Hajj, the state authorities reportedly spent ₦3.02 billion to cowl the fares and associated prices of 357 sponsored pilgrims.

The preparations for the 2026 Christian pilgrimage subsequently signify a renewed effort to support Christian pilgrims, following the sooner suspension that affected each spiritual teams.

However, the report didn’t state what number of Christians the federal government intends to sponsor in 2026, the finances for the train, or whether or not the state will cowl all pilgrimage bills.