The Niger State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Umar Mohammed Bago and the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board following what lawmakers described as a hitch-free and well-coordinated 2026 Hajj exercise.
The resolution came after the House considered and adopted the report of its Standing Committee on Religious Affairs, which commended the state government and the board for ensuring the welfare of the state’s 2,281 pilgrims throughout the pilgrimage.
The committee’s report, presented during Tuesday’s plenary by its Chairman and member representing Agaie Constituency, Hon. Muhammad Etsugaie, attributed the success of the exercise to Governor Bago’s support and commitment to improving Hajj operations in the state.
According to the committee, the intervention of the governor significantly improved the welfare of pilgrims and eliminated many of the challenges that had previously characterised Hajj operations.
The lawmakers noted that all pilgrims received adequate feeding, quality accommodation and necessary medical care throughout their stay in Saudi Arabia.
“All the pilgrims were adequately fed and provided with the necessary medications, food and befitting accommodation. This is a clear departure from what was obtained in the past,” the committee stated.
The report further revealed that, for the first time, operational staff of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, board members, medical personnel and other officials involved in the Hajj exercise received their allowances, a development credited to Governor Bago’s intervention.
“Following the intervention of the governor, all other stakeholders involved in the Hajj operations, including operational staff of the board, board members and the medical team, were equally provided for in terms of allowances for the first time.”
Based on its findings, the committee recommended that the House pass a vote of confidence on the governor, the Executive Secretary and the management and staff of the Pilgrims Welfare Board.
“It is on this note that the committee moved that the House pass a vote of confidence on the governor, the Executive Secretary and the entire staff of the Pilgrims Welfare Board for their steadfastness and people-centred approach, particularly on Hajj activities.”
The recommendation was unanimously adopted by lawmakers.
Speaker of the House, who presided over the plenary, praised Governor Bago for providing the enabling environment that made the successful Hajj operation possible.
He described the 2026 pilgrimage as the first truly hitch-free Hajj exercise conducted by the state.
The Speaker also commended the Executive Secretary, management and staff of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, as well as other stakeholders, for their dedication to the success of the pilgrimage.
“It is on this note that I enjoin all of us to give the governor and the Pilgrims Welfare Board a standing ovation for ensuring a successful Hajj exercise for 2026,” he said.
The Assembly’s commendation comes on the heels of national recognition for the board by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), which adjudged the Niger State Pilgrims Welfare Board as the overall best-performing pilgrims board in the country during the 2026 Hajj operations.
NAHCON also urged other states to emulate Niger State’s approach, citing its efficiency, commitment to pilgrims’ welfare and smooth coordination of the exercise.
The latest endorsement by the state legislature reinforces the growing recognition of Niger State’s performance in this year’s Hajj, with lawmakers attributing the achievement to improved planning, stronger government support and a renewed focus on the welfare of pilgrims and officials alike.
