Lalong bans sponsorship of religious pilgrimage

• Amosun cautions customs against reckless use of arms
• Bello vows to complete abandoned project

As part of democracy day celebration, Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong, yesterday banned government’s sponsorship of Muslims and Christians pilgrimages in the state.

He also distanced his government from patronages that revolve around fasting, including celebrations such as Sallah and Christmas, among others.

Lalong however, pointed out that the hard and painful stance by government would be reviewed as the financial situation improves.

He added that the economic and financial challenges facing the country and state are glaring enough to see.

The governor reiterated in his broadcast, that the government has recovered looted funds, amounting to N2.7billion from the state Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, has cautioned the state command of the Nigerian Customs Service, to desist from reckless use of arms against the people, but instead use peaceful means of settling differences with members of the public.

Amosun who spoke in Abeokuta warned that a situation where men of the command would be “killing our people in the guise of smuggling” is unacceptable and must be condemned.”

The programme, which was marked by the Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), was held at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta.

Piqued by the dangerous trend in the rate projects were being abandoned in the state, Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, said government has appointed qualified consultants to review all abandoned projects by previous administrations.

According to him, “We discovered that most of the contractors who rushed back to site when we assumed office had abandoned those projects before.

Bello vowed to sustain and complete deserving projects not minding the initiators.

He urged contractors who have abandoned their work, without giving value for the money already committed, to quietly return to site and complete their obligations, as his government would not tolerate corruption when discovered.