Muftwang Restores Dignity to Pilgrimage: Clearing Debts, Feeding, and Restoring Hope in Makkah

In an exclusive interview with Global News, the Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Hon. Daiyabu Dauda, highlighted the remarkable transformation taking place under the leadership of Governor Caleb Manasseh Muftwang.

According to him, Plateau State today tells a story of healing, inclusivity, and transformation. “At the heart of this rebirth is Governor Caleb Manasseh Muftwang, whose leadership has redefined governance by bridging divides and delivering tangible results. Truly, the time is now,” Dauda emphasized.

When Muftwang emerged as Governor in 2023, many doubted his ability to govern a state historically divided along religious and ethnic lines. But two years on, Hon. Dauda said those doubts have melted away. “Governor Muftwang has carried both Christians and Muslims along, ensuring that policies and projects reach even the most neglected communities,” he explained.

He pointed to Jos North, a predominantly Muslim area, where rehabilitation and infrastructure projects are reshaping perceptions. More importantly, Dauda stressed, the Plateau State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has become a symbol of inclusivity and sincerity. “Under Governor Muftwang, we have recorded progress never seen before—progress that our pilgrims themselves have openly celebrated,” he said.

For decades, Plateau pilgrims lived under the burden of debts, disappointments, and dashed hopes. Each Hajj season became a reminder of neglect. But according to the Executive Secretary, Governor Muftwang changed the story. “With bold, history-making interventions, he cleared inherited debts that had crippled the system and restored dignity to our pilgrims,” Dauda stated.

He revealed that ₦155 million was set aside for religious tourism, a ₦2 billion loan was secured to safeguard Plateau’s Hajj quota with NAHCON, and ₦188.5 million was released to shield pilgrims from forex volatility.

“It wasn’t just about money,” Dauda added. “It was about fairness. For the first time, every pilgrim received the full $500 Basic Travel Allowance, the highest ever, and only after that did Governor Muftwang authorize payments to staff and officials. That transparency restored confidence not just in the Board, but in governance itself.”

The results, he said, spoke for themselves. In 2024 alone, out of 1,232 intending pilgrims, the Plateau State Government directly sponsored 540. “That level of sponsorship has no precedent in our history. It is inclusivity in action, not just in speeches,” Dauda noted.

He also pointed to improved logistics. “Vehicles once abandoned were repaired and put back to use—the ambulance, the 32-seater bus, the official jeep. Beyond that, two new vehicles were purchased, including a 14-seater bus for Saudi Arabia and another for Plateau. Operations have never been smoother.”

The transformation earned recognition both at home and abroad. In Saudi Arabia, the Hajj Commission awarded Plateau pilgrims for neatness and orderliness in transportation. In Abuja, NAHCON’s Independent Reporters honored Plateau with an award for the best nationwide awareness campaign.

“Our sensitization campaigns across the three senatorial zones were a game changer. We prepared our pilgrims logistically and spiritually. The impact was clear—even a pilgrim returned a huge sum of money in Saudi Arabia, proving that Plateau pilgrims are now ambassadors of integrity,” Dauda proudly shared.

When a week-long delay stranded pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, Governor Muftwang personally ensured they were fed daily. “That moment showed us the Governor’s compassion. He was not just a leader but a father to us,” Dauda recalled.

Summing up the Governor’s impact, Hon. Dauda declared: “No government in recent memory has supported Muslim pilgrims like this. Governor Muftwang has proven with action that leadership is about service, not sentiment. He is a father to all Plateau people.”

Across mosques and markets, gratitude fills the air. Plateau Muslims affirm openly that “this Governor is for all of us.” What began as pilgrimage support has become a peacebuilding tool, binding communities and strengthening unity.

For Plateau, truly—the time is now.