Alleged Plan To Demolish National Mosque, Is Fake News – National Mosque Board

By: Wisdom Acka

The Abuja National Mosque Management Board has described as fake news, the social media reports alleging that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had approved a partial demolition of the monument.

The Director of Finance and Administration of the National Mosque, Ambassador Haliu Shuaib and Imam of the mosque, Dr. Muhammad Kabir Adam, who jointly addressed a Press Conference hosted by Executive Secretary, Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr. Shehu Hadi Ahmad urged the Muslim faithful to disregard such mischief.

The National Mosque Board described the report as the handiwork of conflict merchants bent on creating religious disharmony in the country and casting the Minister in bad light.

The Board revealed that its Wednesday’s visit to the Minister was fruitful as he received them warmly and granted approval of their requests as presented.

According to the Board, the visit which was led by its Chairman, and the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, had visited the Minister on Wednesday to seek clarification on the status of its plots 63 and 99, in the wake of the administration’s drive to recover all ground rents debts, in addition to issues of undeveloped plots.

It said: “the Mosque is hereby, debunking the news of partial demolition of the National Mosque and wishes to set the records straight”.

The Board added: “It has come to the attention of the Abuja National Mosque Management, of a news item making the around in social and print media regarding the purported partial demolition of the National Mosque which is creating tension and anxiety amongst the Muslim Ummah in the country and beyond, which is a fake news.”

The delegation was warmly received and the discussions were constructive, as well as cordial and issues of mutual interest were discussed as follows, the Board reiterated.

The Board explained that on the development of plot 99, the Minister was briefed that the development of the plot was receiving serious attention to the extent that the design of the project to be executed had been approved by the Development Control Department.

While on the development of Plot 63-opposite Yar’adua Centre, the Minister was briefed that the Management of the Mosque was informed that substantial part of plot 63 had been consumed by the proposed Inner Northern Express Way.

“On this note, the Board Chairman sought to know the current status of the plot, and that the remaining part of the affected plot be re-allocated to the Mosque with appropriate replacement of the lost portion be also given to the Mosque and that the Minister’s response was positive,” the Board further clarified.

On the renovation of the Mosque, they said that the Chairman used the opportunity to appeal to the Minister to use his good offices to complete the rehabilitation/renovation of the National Mosque, which the Minister promised to look into.

“The National Mosque wishes to inform the general public that during the meeting between the Board Chairman and the Minister, there was never a time the Minister mentioned the demolition of any part of the National Mosque,” they emphasized.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr. Shehu Hadi-Ahmad, said the Minister had told his guests that he has not been briefed about the status of a plot belonging to the mosque, part of which is affected by a road interchange.

Ahmad recalled that Wike had, during the visit given the FCDA 24 hours to brief him on the issue with a view to compensating the mosque for the portion of its undeveloped land, Plot 63, lost to the road interchange.

His words: “We have complied with the directive by briefing the Minister and he has immediately approved that the excised portion be taken note of and re-issue a title to compensate them for the lost portion.”

“Indeed, as a further demonstration of good faith, the Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike assured the delegation of the support of the FCT Administration in the maintenance of the National Mosque as well as the National Christian Center, which are all National Monuments,” he added.

The Executive Secretary reiterated that the above explanation is the true and correct reflection of what actually transpired and can be further confirmed from the National Mosque Management Board.