The Niger State Government has firmly dissociated itself from a list currently circulating on social media, which purports to name individuals allegedly sponsored by the government for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.
In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Bologi Ibrahim, the state government described the list as false, misleading, and not representative of any official policy or programme currently being implemented. He stressed that no such list originated from the government and urged the public to disregard its contents entirely.
According to Bologi, the administration remains committed to transparency and due process in the execution of its policies, including those related to pilgrim sponsorship. He explained that any sponsorship initiative undertaken by the state is designed strictly for essential personnel such as healthcare workers, officials of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, and other key stakeholders whose roles are critical to ensuring a smooth and safe Hajj operation.
He noted that all such decisions are processed through formal and verifiable government channels—not through informal or unregulated platforms. “The policies of this administration are implemented in an orderly, well-documented, and accountable manner. Lists of government-sponsored pilgrims are not released or generated via social media,” he said.
The Chief Press Secretary accused certain individuals on social media of engaging in a deliberate attempt to mislead the public and undermine the government’s efforts toward building a more responsible and transparent system in the state. He described the circulation of the fake list as an unfortunate display of desperation by those seeking to discredit the government.
He cautioned the public against accepting or sharing unverified information and urged them to always rely on official communication channels for accurate updates on government programmes.
Bologi reaffirmed the administration’s commitment to fairness, accountability, and responsible governance, and called on residents and social media users to verify any claims before amplifying them. He added that the government remains focused on delivering people-oriented policies under the “New Niger” development agenda and would not be distracted by falsehoods.
He concluded by advising members of the public to disregard the fake list in circulation and to be wary of similar attempts to misrepresent government activities online.
