Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has disclosed that the dwindling economic fortunes in the country, has forced the state government to stop sponsorship of intending pilgrims to Mecca, Saudi Arabia and Jerusalem, Israel.
The governor while receiving the executive secretary and other officials of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission in his office, reiterated the determination of his administration to suspend the sponsorship of pilgrims to the holy land until the economy of the state improves.
He explained that individuals who are interested in holy pilgrimage should endeavour to sponsor themselves since the purpose is for spiritual rejuvenation and not a compulsion.
He recalled that the government had maintained the same stand during the 2015 hajj exercise by sending only medical staff to monitor the health of the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
According to him, the present state of economy in Oyo State, has called for a cut down in the financial spending of the state.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John Kennedy said the purpose of the visit was to sensitize the government and well- to- do members of the society on the need to support their brethren and finance their pilgrimage to holy land.
He said the Christian Pilgrim Commission had also introduced Youth Pilgrimage and Skills Acquisition in Jerusalem, which, according to him, would enable the youths to acquire some vocational training in the Holy land of Israel.
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The state governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi while conducting a medical team from the Maryland State, United States of America (USA) around Agodi Garden, explained that there was a need for the state government to evolve new strategies to combat the challenges of salary payment and infrastructural development in the state.
He said the visit of the medical team to Oyo State was a fall- out of his earlier visit to Maryland during the tour of USA in the company of President Muhammadu Buhari last month.
According to him, the only way for the state to develop in all spheres of development was to partner with developed countries and tap from their wealth of experience.
