\u2026Warns Property Owners Against Converting Residential Buildings To Religious Centres<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u2026Registers 13,000 Religious Bodies In One Year, Urges Residents To Report Noise Pollution<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The Lagos State Government saved a total of N4.5billion in the last three years as a result of the decision of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to stop the sponsorship of people for religious pilgrimages to Israel and Saudi Arabia, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdulhakeem Abdullateef has said.<\/p>\n

Speaking on Monday at the annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third year in office of Governor Ambode\u2019s administration held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Abdullateef said funds saved from the development had been diverted into the construction of roads and other amenities to make life easier for residents.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou see, yearly in the past before the present administration came on board, the State Government spent an average of N1.5billion to sponsor people to pilgrimage free of charge. But since Governor Ambode decided to stop the sponsorship of pilgrimage, we have saved N4.5billion in the last three years and the Governor has not changed his mind with regard to sponsorship of pilgrimages.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat the Governor has said and we have been doing is that the State Government will provide for the welfare of the pilgrims; support them with medical tips; support them with clerics who would guide them to ensure that they are focused on the spiritual objectives of the pilgrimage and not something else.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo far, the funds saved from this have been deployed for the construction of roads and other amenities to make life easier for residents,\u201d Abdullateef said.<\/p>\n

While alluding to the fact that some property owners were now converting their residential buildings into religious centres in order to avoid paying the Land Use Charge, the Commissioner warned those indulging in such to desist, saying that it was important for all to operate within the ambit of the law.<\/p>\n

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He said: \u201cDo not convert your residential premises to religious premises. Many do that for the sake of being protected from paying their Land Use Charge and that will not be tolerated. Whatever we want to do, let us keep ourselves within the ambit of the law.<\/p>\n

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\u201cAs for those who are combining their residences with mosque or church, we are not going to demolish but what we said is that all residential premises are subject to Land Use Charge and so when officials of government come, don\u2019t claim there is a mosque on the grand floor.<\/p>\n

Always know that as soon as your property is declared a residential block, you will pay Land Use Charge.\u201d<\/p>\n

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