The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development says the approval for the construction of a Friday mosque in Borno State was to meet the demand of a displaced community.
The Director of Information in the Ministry, Theodore Ogaziechi, made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.
The Ministry says the centre is for a community of livestock farmers displaced by Boko Haram insurgents and are being resettled in Ngarannam/Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.
Ogaziechi said the ministry’s memo approving N30 million for the construction of a Friday mosque is an official document available for public scrutiny and review.
The statement reads: “Our attention has been drawn to an online publication by a newspaper alleging that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has come under fire on social media following a leaked memo conveying the approval of N30 million for the construction of a Friday mosque with taxpayers’ fund.
“In addition, a government official memo, dated December 10, 2020 with ref. No. FMA/PROC/AHS/SIP/2020/7742/1 stating that the Ministerial Tenders Board approved the contract, was displayed on the platform.
“To put the facts straight, the memo is authentic and appropriate in all ramifications.
“It is original and was issued by the ministry for the construction of a worship centre for a community of livestock farmers who were sacked and displaced in Borno State by Boko Haram insurgents and are being resettled in Ngarannam/Mafa local government, Borno.
“Apart from the mosque, other common facilities provided for the livestock farmers in the community include solar-powered boreholes with overhead tanks and drinking troughs for their cattle and small ruminants.
“(Others are) water harvesting structures, Milk Collection Centre, Resettlement Abode as well as other infrastructure to properly settle and rehabilitate the displaced livestock farmers.”
Ogaziechi said the construction of the mosque was a special request from the community through the Borno State government to avoid moving too far from the settlement areas for prayers and also to ensure their safety.
Ogaziechi said the ministry is in no way perturbed about the matter because it received appropriate approval, carried out due needs assessment and ensured due process in the execution of the project.