Mutfwang: Why we sponsor annual Hajj pilgrimage
Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang of Plateau state has explained why his administration sponsors the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
According to the governor, his administration’s sponsorship of Muslim pilgrims to the annual Hajj is “an investment in peace, religious harmony and inclusive governance”, rather than an act of political patronage.
The Governor said the policy reflects his administration’s commitment to building a Plateau where citizens of different faiths and political affiliations can participate equally in the development of the state.
Mutfwang stated this on Thursday, while receiving the report of the 2026 Hajj operation at the New Government House, Rayfield, Jos.
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In a statement by the governor’s Director of Press and Public Affairs, Gyang Bere, the Governor emphasized that pilgrimage should not be viewed merely as a physical journey to the holy land, but as an opportunity for moral renewal, spiritual reflection and a deeper understanding of the equality of all human beings before God.“For me, sponsoring pilgrims to Hajj or Jerusalem is to deepen the fear of God in the hearts of our people, so that we will know that when the chips are down, we are all human beings before God. None of us is superior to the other,” he said.
Against the backdrop of longstanding religious and communal tensions that have sometimes shaped public narratives in Plateau State, Governor Mutfwang said emphasis on religious differences especially among Christians and Muslims would only undermine the collective aspiration for peace and development.
“For too long, people have promoted the Muslim-Christian divide on the Plateau, and it hasn’t helped us,” he said, urging citizens to replace suspicion and division with a stronger sense of shared destiny.
The governor stressed that people must either learn to live together as brothers or perish as fools, declaring that Plateau people have no reason to remain divided.
The Governor cited the appointment of Right Honourable Ahmed Idris Wase as Amirul Hajj as evidence of his administration’s commitment to bipartisanship and inclusive governance.
He noted that although they were in different political camps when he was appointed, the decision to entrust Wase with the responsibility then was guided by the larger interest of Plateau State.
“We thought that we must demonstrate our commitment to bipartisanship, our commitment to inclusion and our commitment to making sure that Plateau people are seen as one,” he said.
He commended Wase for justifying the confidence reposed in him through his leadership of the 2026 Hajj delegation.
He described Amirul Hajj as a man who genuinely loves Plateau State and is committed to its progress, saying his performance had demonstrated that public responsibility should be defined by competence, integrity and commitment to the common good rather than political affiliation.
Addressing concerns over public expenditure on pilgrimage, Governor Mutfwang urged to view the value of the programme and its contribution to peace and social stability in the state.
“For us, it is an investment in peace and stability of our state,” he said, emphasising that sustainable development cannot thrive where religious distrust and communal tensions persist.
The Governor further highlighted the moral dimension of pilgrimage, recalling the example of a Plateau woman who, during the 2025 Hajj, found money belonging to another pilgrim and returned it to its owner.
For Mutfwang, such acts of honesty and integrity represent some of the most important outcomes the government hopes to encourage through pilgrimage.
He also commended the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board for strengthening its processes and closing loopholes that previously allowed individuals to manipulate or sell Hajj slots for personal benefit.
Earlier, the Amirul Hajj, Ahmed Idris Wase, presented the 2026 Hajj report and commended the Mutfwang administration for what he described as unprecedented support for Plateau pilgrims.
He disclosed that the state sponsored more than half of the 1,334 pilgrims who participated in the 2026 Hajj, in addition to providing substantial operational and logistical support to the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board.
Hon. Wase said Plateau State was recognised by the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria for its performance and support to pilgrims, with Governor Mutfwang receiving an award.
He attributed the successful operation to effective collaboration among the Board, Ulamas and other stakeholders, as well as improved religious orientation and mobilisation across the senatorial zones and local government areas.
Mutfwang added that supporting citizens across faiths and political divides meant to position inclusion, peace and social cohesion as essential pillars of the state’s development agenda.
