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Governors spend billions on sponsoring pilgrims

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Kaduna pegs 2019 Hajj fare at N1.5m

State governors have spent billions of naira from public coffers to sponsor people on religious pilgrimages this year, investigations by Daily Trust have shown.

Those sponsored with state resources to Makkah in Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem in Israel, included clerics, government officials, politicians, pilgrims’ officials, medical personnel, family and friends, as well as selected acquaintances.

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Many of the states are still owing workers after receiving bailout funds from the Federal Government to offset outstanding salaries and pensions.

Daily Trust investigations reveal that most of the states sponsoring pilgrims are grappling with abandoned and new projects that require serious attention.

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