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Lagos saves N4.5b from pilgrims’ sponsorship

By Gbenga Salau and Kehinde Olatunji
24 April 2018   |   4:22 am
Lagos State Government has saved over N4.5 billion from the discontinued sponsorship of pilgrims to holy lands.

PHOTO: content.time.com

• Assembly urges tighter security for chambers
Lagos State Government has saved over N4.5 billion from the discontinued sponsorship of pilgrims to holy lands.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, AbdulHakeem AbdulLateef, yesterday at the 2018 ministerial press briefing to mark Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s third anniversary, said before the present administration, N1.5 billion was spent yearly on pilgrimages. He added that in the last three years that the state government had not sponsored pilgrims, it has cumulatively saved N4.5 billion.

According to him, when Ambode came in, he stopped it; the fund saved has helped the governor to provide social amenities like roads.

The commissioner further said the state government would not tolerate conversion of residential buildings into religious centres without government approval.

He maintained that it is a violation of the state building code to use residential apartments for religious centres.

He said the state would also not condone tagging residential buildings as religious buildings to avoid paying Land Use Charge.

On those blocking roads to observe prayers or convert roads to places of worship, Abdul-Lateef said the state government does not allow that.

According to him, in situations where religious centres are having space constraints, they should device a means that will ensure they did not constitute nuisance to the community. He advice they could pray twice or have two services.

He attributed the peace and harmony that pervade Lagos State to inclusive governance structure adopted by the governor in running the affairs of the state in the last three years.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly has called for adequate security measure in the legislative arm of government to shield it from unhealthy interferences.

The House at plenary session yesterday blamed the interference of the thugs who stole the mace at the Senate on lack of adequate security.

The lawmakers lamented that it was a national embarrassment and therefore asked that security apparatus at the national assembly be beefed up to forestall a reoccurrence.

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