By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike has extended revocation deadline for undeveloped plots that belong to Churches and Mosques in the territory.
He said worship centres that fall in the category of ‘develop or revoke’ order issued to religious assemblies, are exempted from the three months ultimatum earlier issued to them.
The FCT Administration under the watch of Wike, had in last September, granted a three-month grace period for owners of 189 undeveloped plots of land in Abuja, to start developing them or risk having their allocation papers revoked.
Wike said the administration was going to extend the ultimatum on religious group since they depend on free will donations for sustenance.
He stated this on Wednesday when he received the Board of the National Mosque, led by its Chairman, His Royal Highness, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar.
The group was at the FCTA to seek clarification on the status of it plots, 63, where they were directed to halt development during the construction of the Outer Southern Express way.
He explained that work was due to start on the plot located opposite the Yar’Adua Center before a stop work notification was issued to the management of the mosque.
The board also used the opportunity to seek for support to complete the ongoing renovation of the FCT National Mosque, which was carried out by the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) before the inauguration of President Tinubu’s administration.
He pointed out that the National Mosque was recognised as a national monument by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who initiated a fund raiser for the renovation of the edifice.
On plot 99, the royal father, said it has been getting the right attention as the council has obtained a building plan approval to begin development soon.
Responding, Wike said the revocation order issued to owners of abandoned projects and plots was not targeted at any individual or groups, but rather to change the landscape of the territory and to discourage criminals from hibernating in them.
He added that no government will hesitate to support the renovation of a national monument, be it Mosque or a church.
The Minister added that whatever assistance had been in place for the National Mosque will be sustained, if not improved upon.
“In order to fight crime, and change the land scape of the city, we will not allow uncompleted buildings, therefore those who gave theirs, go now and start completing. We know the finances of religious groups, they are handicap as they are not business people, and it is only when people come to support them.
“In such areas, we can say on religious grounds, instead of three months, we can give additional time but it is not targeted at anybody or group. Now you have come and explained, which reasonable man would not accept it. So our people should stop saying he is targeting so group or religion or ethnic group, no, it is for the interest of all of us.
“We will extend it, so we will not restrict it to three months for you, as a religious group, because there is no money as people come to support you. And it is only when they support that you can carry out whatever you are doing.”
Wike, also used the opportunity to clarify the controversies around the alleged demolition of a mosque in Rivers state while he served as governor of the state.
The minister said the allegation was a political move spread by his opponents as no Mosque was demolished during his tenure as governor.
