Authorities of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development have confirmed the award of a contract worth N30 million for the construction of a mosque in Borno State.
The Ministry says the construction of the mosque came due to a request from a resettled community that Was Sacked from their original community by Boko Haram terrorists.
In a statement signed by the Director of Information, Theodore Ogaziechi, the ministry disclosed that it would also provide solar-powered boreholes and overhead tanks, among other amenities for the community.
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The statement was released following a leaked memo conveying the approval of N30m million for the construction of a Friday mosque with taxpayers’ funds recently putting the ministry under fire on social media.
According to the statement, it is “to put the facts straight, that 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 Mafa Local Government Area of Borno State.”
The statement further noted that “apart from the mosque, other facilities being provided include livestock for farmers in the community, solar-powered boreholes with overhead tanks and drinking troughs for cattle and small ruminants, water harvesting structures, milk collection centre, resettlement abode, as well as other infrastructure to properly settle and rehabilitate the displaced livestock farmers.”
It added that “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 and contact with the insurgents.”
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
