The Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Islamic Matters, Dr. Abdullahi Jebe, has emphasized that the effective coordination of religious groups by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration has played a key role in fostering unity in the state.
Dr. Jebe stated this while speaking with newsmen in Ikeja, noting that the state’s development strategy was first established during President Bola Tinubu’s tenure as governor and has been further refined by subsequent administrations.
He highlighted that the state government, through his office, has cultivated strong relationships with key stakeholders via the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), which has offices across the states.
According to Dr. Jebe, who previously served as the Senior Special Adviser (SA) on Religious Matters under both President Tinubu and former Governor Babatunde Fashola, this approach has ensured peaceful coexistence among Muslims and Christians, thereby contributing to overall religious harmony in Lagos.
“In the past, whenever the government wanted to reach out to religious bodies, it dealt directly with the heads of religious organizations through the five divisions of the state.
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“When Babajide Sanwo-Olu came into office, he extended the reach beyond the divisions, ensuring that everyone enjoyed the dividends from the government.
“This was made possible because the state already had their records and numbers.
“Leaders in these five divisions are headed by Chief Imams, and other Islamic organizations, Muslim scholars, Islamic teachers, and Arabic schools are now incorporated into the system whenever opportunities arise from the government,” he explained.
He also noted that the recent food palliative distributed by the state government to religious associations was shared across the 20 Local Governments (LGs) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) based on quotas within the divisions of the state.
Speaking about the achievements in Hajj operations in recent years, Dr. Jebe commended the interventions of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration, which have significantly eased the burden of pilgrims traveling to the holy land of Makkah.
“President Tinubu attended the Lesser Hajj in the year 2000 and in 2001. During the exercise, he observed the challenges people faced at Mount Arafat and addressed feeding issues for the pilgrims. He also paid for the Ihram clothes for the pilgrims.
“President Tinubu set a platform of support for pilgrims during the Hajj exercise, which subsequent governors built upon.
“Governor Sanwo-Olu’s magnanimous interventions have transformed the experience of pilgrimage in Lagos State.
“He paid for the rams slaughtered by the pilgrims, arranged visits to religious sites in Medina and Makkah, provided Ihram clothes, and catered for feeding pilgrims at Mount Arafat in Makkah,” he explained.
Dr. Jebe urged Lagosians to continue supporting the government’s programs and policies. He also called on religious bodies to preach good parenting to their followers, emphasizing the importance of quality child upbringing for the development of the state and the nation.
