Agric ministry approved N30m for mosque construction, internal memo reveals

The federal ministry of agriculture and rural development approved the sum of N30 million for the construction of a Friday mosque, an internal memo trending on social media has revealed.

The project approval was conveyed in a letter dated December 10, 2020, with reference number FMA/PROC/AHS/SIP/2020/7742/1.

Checks by TheCable, however, shows no information on the construction of the Friday mosque in the ministry’s 2020 budget.

Also no information was available on the open treasury portal to reflect if payment was made to the contractor despite the eight weeks timeline.

The approval letter, signed by Musa Musa, the deputy director of procurement in ministry, was addressed to the managing director of El-Shukhur Multi-Buz Nig. Ltd, the contractor.

Additional checks by TheCable revealed that the contractor has an “inactive” status at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

An inactive status on CAC implies that the company has failed to file annual returns with the commission.

With CAC registration number 770543, the company has an unspecified activity information and an unknown status.

According to the letter, the ministerial tenders board approved the contract at its 7th meeting which held on December 7.

It added that the project should be completed within eight months.

“I am directed to inform you that the ministerial tenders board at its 7th meeting held on December 7, 2020, approved the award of contract for the construction of Friday mosque to your company at the total sum of N30m only, inclusive of VAT, with a completion period of eight weeks with effect from the date of this letter,” the letter read.

“You are therefore required to indicate in writing within three 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.”

Despite public demand for an explanation, the ministry has kept mum on the issue. Calls by TheCable to the ministry’s number on its website were unsuccessful.

Reactions have trailed the development on social media

Some Nigerians including Dino Melaye, former Kogi senator, criticised the ministry over the approval.

Melaye asked if the government is now committed to good governance or religious engagements.

“What! Despite all the challenges facing food security, building a mosque is the Federal Ministry of Agriculture’s priority! To pray for rain or what? How did we get here for Heaven sake? What has the government got to do with churches or mosques?” he tweeted.
(The Cable)