The Lagos State Government has said it does not sponsor pilgrims but only ensures their safety while on the spiritual exercise.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, said the state government also coordinated the activities of the pilgrims to keep them from trouble.
He spoke during an orientation seminar and rededication service held for intending pilgrims at the Chapel of Christ the Light, a statement said on Thursday.
He said the state had concluded plans to commence the movement of the first batch of the 2015 intending Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem and Rome on Friday.
He said, “The government’s role remains coordinating the activities of pilgrims, ensuring a hitch free exercise and ensuring that the rights of the travellers are not trampled upon while in the holy land.
“The government’s participation in pilgrimage does not mean that the government is the one sponsoring the pilgrims but rather, government serves as a coordinating body for the exercise especially in ensuring the overall safety of the pilgrims.”
Abdul-Lateef added that the government of Israel which hosts pilgrims from across the world every year does not relate with any pilgrim as an individual but as a country, hence the need for the pilgrims to be better organised by the government.
He also used the occasion to allay fears of unrest in Israel, adding that Lagos State would not embark on a journey to a place where the lives of Lagosians would be endangered.
The commissioner said that the present administration in the state expected that every religious organisation would be spiritually rejuvenated and act as development partners with the government.
Exhorting the intending pilgrims, Rt. Rev. Dr. A. Adetubo emphasised the importance of prayers as the fundamental reason for the holy journey.
He solicited maximum obedience and cooperation from the intending pilgrims with all officials of government who had over the years gathered experiences on the exercise.
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