The Lagos State Ministry of Home Affairs says it received 74 applications for naturalisation on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Interior Affairs in two years.
The Commissioner for Home Affairs, Anofiu Elegushi, disclosed this at a ministerial press briefing to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu .
Of the 74 applications for naturalisation received by the ministry, a total number of 35 applications have been screened and recommended to the Federal Ministry of Interior for approval,he said
He disclosed that the ministry is also in partnership with foreign business owners who intend to acquire the citizenship of being a Nigerian through naturalisation.
He explained that with the partnership of naturalisation and special immigrant status, Lagos State, stands to benefit from the foreign direct investment while the immigrant business owners also benefit by growing their businesses in one of the biggest markets in the world.
He also said the state government has registered 400 money lenders in the state,adding that the Ministry of Home Affairs is in partnership with the money lenders’ sector in a way that most of such organisations are mandated to register with the ministry for the coordination of their activities.
“In return, the ministry registers, profiles and monitors the viability of such companies in ensuring that while the money lenders are in business, the general public is also protected from scammers and people of questionable characters, while also regulating the activities of the companies.
He revealed that his ministry is currently in the process of imputing data of every place of worship located in the state on a centralised database to allow the state government to have reliable data of churches, mosques and their locations, with a view to carrying them along with state government’s policies.
The commissioner expressed the hope that the policy, because of effective resource allocation and efficient management inherent in it, will bring about extended benefits to many more churches and mosques in the state, saying that at present, the website designed for this enumeration purpose, has over 10,000 data of both Muslim and Christian religious organisations across the state.
He also reported the state of religious harmony and peaceful coexistence of people belonging to the two major religions in the state.
According to the commissioner: “We pride ourselves in saying that what divides and creates security breach in other parts of the country is what unites us in Lagos State, bearing in mind that Lagos State has become a home to people from across Nigeria and beyond.
“Lagos State has enjoyed tremendous religious harmony and peaceful co-existence through one of the critical functions of our ministry that is “facilitating, maintaining and enhancing harmonious relations among faith-based groups and organisations in the state.”
