By Stanley Onyekwere
There is a clear indication that religious organisations will now enjoy additional time from the three-month develop or revoke’ order issued to owners of undeveloped plots in Abuja, the nation’s capital city.
FCT Minister, Barrister Nyesom Wike dropped this hint of the exemption on religious grounds yesterday, when he received the Board of the National Mosque, led by its Chairman, Estu Nupe, His Royal Highness, Alh. Yahaya Abubakar, in Abuja.
Recall that the FCT Administration, had last month (September), granted a three-month grace period for owners of 189 undeveloped plots of land in Abuja, to begin developing them or risk having their allocation papers revoked.
Wike, however revealed that the administration will extend the ultimatum on religious group since they largely depend on free will donations for sustenance.
He noted that the finances of religious groups, as they are handicap, 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”, the Minister stated.
Furthermore, the FCT Minister reiterated that 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.
He added that whatever assistance had been in place for the National Mosque will be sustained, if not improved upon
He said: “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.”
Earlier, Abubakar, who led 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 that the National Mosque was recognised as a national monument by President Olusegun Obasanjo, who initiated a a fund raiser for the renovation of the edifice.
The royal father however explained that on plot 99, said the plot has been getting the right attention as the council has obtained a building plan approval to begin development soon.
On plot 63, the minister gave a 24 hour ultimatum to the FCDA to report back on the status of the plot.
