The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), has revealed why it constructed a N30 million Friday Mosque in Borno.
This was disclosed in a statement by the Director, Information, FMARD, Theodore Ogaziechi, on Thursday May 20, following a leaked memo for the construction.
Ogaziechi, who confirmed that the memo was authentic, said it was awarded for displaced and sacked livestock farmers to have a worship centre in Borno state.
FMARD said, “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 State.”
Breaking down the facilities built with the N30 million, it said that 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 include water harvesting structures, milk collection centre, resettlement abode, as well as other infrastructure to properly settle and rehabilitate the displaced livestock farmers.
“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.
“The memo is an official document and it is available for public scrutiny and review. It is therefore unfortunate for anyone to presume that the memo leaked.
“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” FMARD explained.
The ministry advised that in the future, due diligence and restraint should be observed before publications of this nature, as it argued that it was meant for public good and security.
The purported leaked memo, which went viral on the social media was dated December 10, 2020, with reference number FMA/PROC/AHS/SIP/2020/7742/1, tagged;
‘Award of Contract for the Construction of Friday Mosque’ and signed by Musa A. Musa, Deputy Director, Procurement, for: Honourable Minister.
The memo read:
“I am directed to inform you that the Ministerial Tenders Board at its 7th meeting held on 7th December, 2020, approved the award of contract for the Construction of Friday Mosque to your Company at the total contract sum of N30,000,000.00(Thirty Million Naira) only, inclusive of VAT, with a completion period of eight (8)weeks, with effect from the date of this letter.
“You are therefore required to indicate in writing within three (3) days of receipt of this offer, your acceptance to the Office of the Director, Procurement, FMARD, Abuja or otherwise, the offer will be considered lapsed. Thereafter, you are to liaise with the Director (Animal Husbandry Services) for adequate supervision of the Contract and the Director (Legal Services) for signing of the Contract Agreement.
“ Please note that the Contract is not transferable and the cost is fixed, firm and request for price variation will not be entertained.
“ It is expected that the Contract will be executed in strict compliance with the BOQ/Specifications and in line with relevant clauses in the Bidding Document and Contract Agreement. Congratulations.”
