Lagos Marks Six Consecutive Years of Successful Pilgrimages Without Any Abscondment – Commissioner

The Lagos State Government has announced the successful coordination of both Christian and Muslim pilgrimages to Jerusalem and Mecca over the past six years—without a single case of abscondment.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Olanrewaju Layode, disclosed this during the ongoing ministerial press briefing held in Alausa, Ikeja, to mark the second anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.

Layode noted that the Ministry of Home Affairs has exercised strict oversight to ensure the safety, welfare, and smooth spiritual journey of all pilgrims.

“We take our responsibility in overseeing pilgrimages very seriously,” he said. “Our top priority is to ensure that every pilgrim departs and returns safely. We are proud to say we have successfully achieved this for six consecutive years.”

He credited the consistent success to the support of Governor Sanwo-Olu and Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, as well as the cooperation of the pilgrims themselves.

According to Layode, 1,288 pilgrims from Lagos State have traveled to Mecca so far this year, with the final batch scheduled to depart soon.

The commissioner also revealed that the ministry received 116 applications for naturalisation and special status from foreign nationals during the review period. Of these, 63 applications were processed and forwarded to the Federal Government for further consideration.

In a related update, Layode said that 21 moneylenders were sanctioned for various regulatory violations.

“We remain committed to maintaining order in the financial sector, especially among moneylenders,” he said. “Compliance with legal standards is non-negotiable. We are here to protect both lenders and borrowers—no one is permitted to alter loan terms arbitrarily.”

He added that efforts are ongoing to identify and take action against unregistered moneylenders, regardless of any attempts to evade detection by changing addresses.