Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State
This is part of the administration’s policy to make everyone participate in the holy pilgrimage irrespective of the financial status and class.
The Governor, who also honoured the Managing Director of Medview Airline for partnering with the state government in airlifting pilgrims in the state, reiterated his commitment to make life easier for every resident in the state.
Speaking at the launch of the scheme also known as “Pay Small Small Scheme,” at the Renaissance Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, the governor said with the scheme, petty traders and other low income earners would be able to fulfill their religious obligations in a more convenient way.
Ambode described the scheme as one of his administration’s strategies to create an enabling environment for every resident to feel the impact of the government, saying that more approaches were underway to make life better for the citizens irrespective of their tribe, religion and other differences.
“It is a contributory scheme for all pilgrimages, whether it is for Jerusalem or Mecca. The all inclusive administration of Governor Ambode is meant to carry along even the less privileged in the society to ensure that even with N50,000, you can begin to pay for your pilgrimage to Mecca, Medina, Rome and Jerusalem.
“We have partnered with Micro Finance firm that will allow people to choose either three, two years or one contributory scheme for the pilgrimage depending on the ability of such a person. In fact, there is a package of N1,500 daily contribution scheme for the pilgrimage.
“The government wants to ensure that people are carried along and they are able to discharge their religious duties without stress. So, to the ordinary trader, it is an avenue to fulfill their obligations. One way of alleviating poverty is to carry the people along and assure them of a place in the heart of government,” said Ambode who was represented by the state Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef.
Managing Director Medview, Mr Muneer Bankole commended the government for the initiative.
“As we all know, pilgrimage is there for everyone as long as the existence of mankind. For the government to think of this scheme, it must have considered the plight of the downtrodden of Nigeria. They struggle to partake in the pilgrimage yearly; some of them contribute to fulfill the religious obligations.
“For government to have designed a safe window to keep their money from their small scale businesses, it will afford them the opportunity to actualize their dreams,” he said.
