LASG refunds N50m to 2015 pilgrims

Sesan Olufowobi

The Lagos State Government says it has started refunding a total sum of N50m to 2015 hajj pilgrims for services not rendered during the exercise.
The  Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, stated this at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja, on Thursday, explaining that the money was returned to the state government by the Federal Government.
He said, “The Lagos State Muslim Pilgrims Board has been returning the money to the pilgrims, about 3,047 in all. Each of the pilgrims, who participated in the 2015 hajj, collected N16,000.”
The commissioner urged residents of the state to support developmental initiatives of the present administration, which were meant to promote peaceful co-existence and religious tolerance, emphasising that the government had no plan to license religious preachers as  was being speculated.
He noted that an atmosphere of peace was the bedrock for any sustainable societal growth in a cosmopolitan city like Lagos.
The commissioner said government would continue to ensure sustenance of peaceful co-existence among residents irrespective of their ethnic and religious persuasions.
Abdulateef added that the Ministry of Home Affairs had been using different strategies, which included public enlightenment campaigns, sensitisation and advocacy programmes against hate preaching and religious intolerance, to ensure peace in the state.
He said, “Studies have established that most religious crises are ignited by unguarded preaching of hate messages by some overzealous religious leaders. Our ministry has therefore, adopted a very strong stance against such messages. We hope to stop this unhealthy practice through advocacy.”

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