The Federal Capital Territory Administration has given an extension to the revoke’ order issued to religious organisations, as the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, exempted them from the three months ultimatum earlier issued to owners of undeveloped plots.
The minister gave the extension when he received the Board of the National Mosque, led by its Chairman, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar on Wednesday.
Wike affirmed that the administration would extend the ultimatum for religious groups since they largely depend on free will donations for sustenance.
The board was at the FCTA to seek clarification on the status of the plots where it was directed to halt development during the construction of the Outer Southern Expressway.
Abubakar noted that work was due to start on the plot located opposite the Yar’Adua Centre before a stop-work notification was issued to the management of the mosque.
The board also used the opportunity to call for support to complete the ongoing renovation of the FCT National Mosque, which was carried out by the Federal Capital Development Authority before the inauguration of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
He stated that the National Mosque was recognised as a national monument by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who initiated a fund-raising for the renovation of the edifice.
While responding, Wike, meanwhile 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 said further that no government would not support the renovation of a national monument, be it mosque or a church, noting that whatever assistance had been in place for the National Mosque will be sustained, if not improved upon.
The minister equally used the opportunity to clarify the controversies surrounding the alleged demolition of a mosque in Rivers State while he served as governor of the state, saying that the allegation was a political move spread by his opponents as no mosque was demolished during his tenure as governor.
