Sesan Olufowobi
The Lagos State Government says it has introduced a part payment plan for intending pilgrims to holy lands to cushion the effect of the current economic crunch in the country.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef, who stated this on Monday in Alausa, Ikeja, said the state government had also come up with a reward initiative, noting that religious leaders, who were able to mobilise up to 50 members of their religious organisations for pilgrimage, would get one free slot each.
He stated that in view of the existing harmonious relationship among the religious bodies in the state, the government had also approved pilgrimage to Israel for any Muslim willing to do so.
Abdullateef said, “In response to the economic recession, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the payment for pilgrimage to Israel, Rome and Greece on instalments. Lagosians can begin to pay for pilgrimage with any amount.
“The price for Israel is N580,000, but if anyone intends to combine Israel with Greece and Rome, the price is N720,000. With the commencement of the Pay-Small-Small plan, we expect that Lagosians will take advantage of this opportunity to visit Israel.
“We will also be accommodating Muslims who intend to visit Jerusalem because Jerusalem is home to the third holiest mosque.”
Abdullateef clarified that the one slot given to religious leaders was not a negation of the no-pilgrimage sponsorship of the state government, but a marketing strategy to reward business partners.
He added that the latest initiatives on pilgrimage to holy lands were in continuation of the good governance offered by Ambode.
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