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Lagos State Government on Tuesday said it has sealed off offices of 21 money lending companies in the state for infractions.
This was just as it disclosed that a total of 623 registered money lending companies operate in the state, explaining that 474 that had been existing got their certificates renewed, while 149 new ones just applied for registration.
The State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ibrahim Layode, made this known during a press briefing to mark the second year of the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held at the Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
Layode stated that a close monitoring was undertaken by his ministry to avoid money lending companies being turned to avenues to swindle members of the public, saying that those that got their certificates withdrawn was because they refused to pay taxes, while some of them were discovered to have changed their office addresses without informing the ministry.
On the ongoing Hajj Operations, the commissioner said his ministry had succeeded in achieving a hitch-free so far, noting that the state would be taking 1,432 pilgrims to hajj this year, with 1,280 intending pilgrims so far airlifted, just as he promised that the remaining shall be in Saudi Arabia by the weekend.
He said the ministry had been able to checkmate the influx of illegal immigrants into the state, recalling that 116 people applied for naturalisation in the last one year, out of which 63 applications were being considered in conjunction with Nigerian Immigration Service, Department of State Service (DSS), and other relevant agencies.
On religious harmony, Layode said the state would continue to stand out, not just as Nigeria’s commercial hub, but also as a beacon of religious harmony and a model for interfaith unity, despite being home to adherents of diverse religions.
Layode said Lagos had built a robust framework for bridging Christianity and Islam by recognizing the spiritual needs of both faiths and actively fostering dialogue, inclusion, and mutual celebration.
The commissioner, who emphasized that the ministry’s core mandate to include enhancing harmonious relations among faith-based organizations, said that this was achieved through landmark programmes, joint celebrations, and continuous engagement with religious leaders.
He cited the recently concluded Christian and Muslim fasting seasons, stating that the state government played its part in promoting peace and understanding during the period, without showing bias toward either religion.
The commissioner explained that the state’s active involvement in various religious activities reflected a shared identity and unwavering commitment to peaceful coexistence.
He stated that beyond ceremonial events, the ministry also convened the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) Interfaith Parleys, describing it as a unique initiative that brings together Christian and Muslim leaders to advise the government, prevent conflicts, and convey policy information to their congregations.
According to him, this dual-faith strategy has fostered a unique opportunity where religious leaders collaborate on shared values such as peace, unity, discipline, and spiritual growth, saying that this, in turn, has translated into security and social harmony that has galvanized the economy of the state.
“Lagos is a city of many people and many faiths—but one heart. This religious unity has been a major factor in the state’s peaceful coexistence over the years,” he said
