Lagos State Government on Friday beat 35 other
States to bag the prestigious award for the best performing State in the 2016
Hajj Operations in Nigeria.
The award was one out of the six the State also
won for its excellent performance throughout the duration of the 2016 Hajj
exercise in Mecca and Medina.
Other awards won by the State include Best State
in Coordination of pilgrims airlift, Best State in E-Track Management, Second
Best State in pilgrims education and enlightenment programme, Second Best State
in Taradudiyyah Exercise, Third Best State in provision of pilgrims
accommodation and Third Best State in coordination of pilgrims feeding.
South West Commissioner of the National Hajj
Commission (NAHCON), Mr. Fauad Adeyemi who presented the awards to the State
Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at the Banquet Hall, Lagos House in Ikeja, said
out of the eight categories of awards instituted by the Commission, Lagos won
in seven.
He thanked Governor Ambode for supporting the
pilgrims and providing the necessary logistics that made the holy exercise not
only worthwhile, but one that stood the State out from the crowd and made
Nigeria proud.
“I want to thank the Governor for his support
because if a Christian Governor can support his people to the level that they
became the best, not only the way we used to know Lagos State, but they became
the best throughout the nation and not only the nation, but they have an impact
throughout the world. You did not only make us proud, personally you have made
me proud,” Adeyemi said.
Responding, Governor Ambode, while thanking the
Commission for finding Lagos worthy of the awards, said it would spur the State
on to retain the awards in subsequent exercise.
“For us in Lagos, we do not just see the awards,
we focus on making the people comfortable. We thank the Hajj Commission, not
because they recognised us, but because it’s only out of fairness that when you
see a good thing you recognise it.
“For us as a government, we are committed to make
life more comfortable for our people because we know that it is the essence of
us being in government. This ward is just an inspiration for us, this is a
challenge again that we must keep all these awards by the grace of God in this
2017 Hajj operations,” he said.
Governor Ambode, who was represented by his
Deputy, Dr. Mrs. Idiat Adebule, also thanked the Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board
and other partners of the State Government that worked towards the success of
the Hajj, reminding them that the award was a call to sustain the good works.
“What we have achieved that is being celebrated
today, we must not relent. On our part as Government, we pledge our commitment
to ensure the best of facilities, the best of enabling environment is provided
for our pilgrims,” he said.
On his part, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Hon.
Abdulateef Abdulhakeem in his welcome address, said that the awards were more
feathers to the awards already won by the impressive performance of the
Governor Ambode led administration in all sectors.
The Commissioner also assured that the Pilgrims
Board would work assiduously to replicate the same feat not only during the
2017 Hajj exercise but also the Christian pilgrimage to Jerusalem, Greece and
Rome.
“The primary essence of government is the welfare
of the people whether they are within or outside Nigeria. So the Governor has
touched every sector and the people who are of the religious sector are
immensely grateful to His Excellency and we thank the Federal Government for
identifying with us and we promise that we would not allow these medals to go
without maintaining them”, Abdulhakeem said.
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