The federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said the alleged leaked memo with 30 million naira for a mosque construction was fact and not leaked, but that the mosque was a part of a bigger project for internally displaced people in Borno State.
In a statement signed by the Director of information of the Ministry, Theodore Ogaziechi and made available to Voice of Liberty, he said 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, Water Harvesting Structures, Milk Collection Center, Resettlement Abode, as well as other infrastructure to properly settle and rehabilitate the displaced livestock farmers.
He explained 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.
Ogaziechi further explained that the memo is authentic and appropriate in all ramifications. He said it is original and was issued by the Ministry for the construction of a worship center following a request by Borno State Governor, 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.
It would be recalled that an online publication by the Punch Newspaper alleged that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has come under fire on social media following a leaked memo conveying the approval of N30m for the construction of a Friday mosque with taxpayers funds.
