The Federal Capital Development Authority has refuted claims of an order to partially demolish the National Mosque in Abuja, as reported in the media.
The FCDA made this clarification in a statement on Thursday by its Head of Public Relations/Information, Mr. Richard Nduul.
The statement reads “The FCDA wishes to state unequivocally that as far as it is concerned, the news is fake or at best a mixed up by the reporter. There was no time whatsoever that the Honourable Minister of the FCT directed for the demolition of the National Mosque nor did the Executive Secretary receive any directive pertaining to the demolition of the National Mosque,”
The misunderstanding arose when members of the Abuja Mosque Management Committee, led by the Etsu Nupe, Yahaya Abubakar, visited the FCT Minister.
During the visit, they appealed for more time to develop the two plots of land allocated to the National Mosque by the FCT Administration.
One of these plots, Plot 63, was significantly affected by future road development, specifically the Inner Northern Expressway, and an alternative or replacement was being sought.
The context of the discussion was related to the revocation of land title allocations that remained undeveloped over time.
The FCDA statement emphasized that Minister Wike’s directive was about the status of the lands allocated to the National Mosque and not the demolition of the mosque itself.
“The above explanation is the true and correct reflection of what actually transpired, and this could also be further confirmed from the National Mosque Management Board,” the statement concluded.
