Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has spoken out against the government spending money to sponsor people going on pilgrimages. He argued that spending dollars to send pilgrims to Jerusalem or Mecca is wrong and goes against the Nigerian constitution.
In a video shared on YouTube by Sahara TV from 19:03, Falana said section 10 of the constitution states that Nigeria must not adopt any religion. He explained that it is unconstitutional for the government to fund people on pilgrimages and that such spending is against the principles of Christianity and Islam. He said the government should use public funds to address more pressing needs that benefits all Nigerians, regardless of their religious beliefs.
In Femi Falana’s words: “Section 10 of the constitution provides that the Nigerian state shall not adopt any religion. So, you can’t adopt Islam and Christianity and be sending people to Jerusalem and Mecca”