Lagos bans sponsorship of pilgrimages to Mecca, Jerusalem

Written by: Bola Badmus-Lagos 


Lagos State government said it has finally banned state sponsorship of Muslims and Christians pilgrims who embark on pilgrimages to Mecca in Saudi Arabia or Jerusalem in Israel, saying it considered it the most irresponsible way of spending tax payers' money.

The state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Honourable Abdulateef Abdulhakeem, disclosed this when members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, led by Honourable Olayiwola Olawale, paid a visit to the ministry in furtherance of their oversight function.

Abdulhakeem said the government decided to ban the sponsorship because it amounted to injustice for certain individuals to continue to benefit from the government to the detriment of other members of the society.

The commissioner, who said part of his ministry's mandate is the supervision of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, recalled that recently, the governor and the state executive council approved a policy for the state to stop sponsorship of pilgrimages, declaring that the step was in line with the policy thrust of the government and what the state House of Assembly also speaks to.

"In this day and time when we are talking about paucity of funds coupled with inhibiting challenges that the government has to take care of, we can no longer afford to spend the sum of one million on one single individual to go on pilgrimage when the scripture did not compel anyone to do so.

"So, it is most irresponsible way of spending tax payer's money. That is why the government has taken a solid decision, that we will be accountable and responsible for every kobo that the tax payers pay to the government. It is an injustice for the government to be spending millions on group of people when millions of Lagosians are yearning for government's attention," he said.

The commissioner also disclosed that the state government had commenced the process of gathering data of religious organisations and their locations in the state, to be able to set standards, give orientation and provide security for them.

Abdulhakeem, who noted that there was a symbiotic relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government in the state, expressed appreciation to the state House of Asembly for the quick passage of the 2016 Budget.

"Your resolution is a compulsion, it is not advisory. Even your motion that Mile 12 Market should be relocated to another area is being considered by the state government. The Ministry of Home Affairs has been restructured and some of its duties have been given to other MDAs."

The chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Home Affairs, Honourable Olayiwola Olawale, in his response, described the decision of the government as laudable, saying the House was ready to back the decision with the necessary legislation.

He stated that the visit of the committee to the ministry was homecoming, adding that the commissioner was a man of integrity, adding that the committee would work hand-in-hand with the ministry.

"The speaker of the House and other principal officers send their greetings. We are here to perform our oversight functions and we are ready to work with the ministry to achieve success.

"I commend the pro-active posture of the ministry as enumerated by the commissioner. We are happy with the steps being taken by the ministry to ensure religious harmony in the state. We will also support this with the necessary

http://odili.net/news/source/2016/mar/11/616.html

Good news. If you want to go on holiday pay for it. Don't hide under religion to make others pay for your leisure.

Naso OYO govt talk but dem always dey sponsor their party members and religious associates. Spending on unnecessary things instead on things that will impact people positively

Good.
Want other states to emulate this.

Buhary unnecessary foreign trips should be banned immediately too.

Finally a Sane government in Nigeria

About time. The federal govt should follow suit.

Not just banning please also tax those travelling to this programs please

Nice one. They will use taxpayer funds to sponsor them, still yet, they'll still defraud the state. So, whats the essence of sponsoring them if they go and come back and still unclean.

Nice one Ambode.

All I saw was a waste of public funds. .anyone who wants to travel should go at his or her own cost..

uuuummmm....don't even know wah to type..

S

When are they going to ban the use of loudspeakers in churches and mosques in early part of the morning and late nights.?

ok

I no even get wetin to talk,
I just love to see how stupid i have become,
If you think say, you get sense, like this post for no reason

Firefire:
Buhary unnecessary foreign trips should be banned immediately too.

How do you know which of the President's trip is necessary and which one is not.? You open your mouth to say a lot of trash.

Correct....its been a long time coming.

following the foot steps of Elrufai. Nice one

Very good

9ice one.Not foolishly developing other countries indirectly while our own country is in the state of disarray.

Good development, one must say.

I love this. Nice one, Ambode.

Well, anybody that wants to visit the Holy land should be able to afford it

Nice

Wasting of tax payers money on few party members, the scripture only say go if & when u can afford it.

Nice one

All states should copy this....really.

Good move.


Now the Nigerian Government must sponsor promotion of Nigerian tribal religions and shrines so that people from foreign nations and within Nigeria promote cultural tourism to their own nation.


A Pagan Traditionalist Nigerian must not pay to sponsor pilgrimages of the islamic and xtian faiths when these same faiths call to break their shrines and idols, hurl abuse at Nigerian religions and deities and curse them as satanic.


While a foreign religion and ideology like islam/xtianity will suck a nation and its people dry off its wealth (pilgrimage/tithe taxes, etc) , an indigenous religion and ideology (Nigerian Paganism) will always provide income for the nation (cultural/religious tourism, development, cultural innovation,etc).


This is the fundamental difference betweem the two. The former works against the nation while the latter inspires Nationalism and self-pride among the masses.

Firefire:
Buhary unnecessary foreign trips should be banned immediately too.

I'm in a good mood this morning, so I will let this crap you posted pass.

PentiumPro:
When are they going to ban the use of loudspeakers in churches and mosques in early part of the morning and late nights.?

I agree. Very annoying.

LastMumu:
Can they please postpone this their ban? I have made serious plans on going to Mecca this year and have been banking heavily on the grant support from the state government to actualize my dream.

Pay for it from your own money and go bow to your arab deities.