28th March, 2022
PRESS RELEASE:
RESPECT ISLAMIC CITY C OF O: MURIC TELLS WORKS MINISTRY, OGSG
The Federal Ministry of Works and the Ogun State Government have been told to respect the Certificate of Occupancy (‘C of O’) of the Islamic City located at the Pakuro-Lotto axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The settlement was built by the Zumratul Jamiu Mumin Society of Nigeria (ZJM) decades ago but there are plans by the Federal Ministry of Works to demolish the whole settlement in favour of a fly-over bridge.
Making the plea on Monday 28th March, 2022 was the director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Professor Ishaq Akintola.
He said:
“The Federal Ministry of Works allegedly marked buildings located inside the Islamic City, a settlement of the Zumratul Jamiu Mumin Society of Nigeria (ZJM) located at the Pakuro-Lotto axis of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The marking exercise immediately produced fears of demolition particularly as it was followed by briefings from men of the ministry who revealed that it was for the purpose of an interchange and flyover.
“Although the ministry has not made another move since MURIC cried out against the proposed demolition in its 14th October, 2022 press release, nobody can tell when bulldozers from the ministry will move into the settlement. Since to be forewarned is to be forearmed, we remind the Ministry of works that the whole settlement has a ‘C of O’ and this should be respected.
“Nigerian Muslims will not fold their arms and watch one of the products of its hard labour disappear in rubbles moreso since the Islamic City is situated between two Christian entities, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Camp and the Deeper Life Bible Church Camp. MURIC will ensure that Nigerian Muslims resist this with every legitimate means at their disposal.
“The Redeemed Church leadership has also been fingered as having an interest in evicting the Islamic City from its environs. Officials of the Islamic City confided in MURIC that RCCG clerics had approached them to sell off their priced property because the church was ‘not comfortable with an Islamic group nearby’.
“We are therefore constrained to warn the RCCG leadership to keep off the property. Islamic City is not for sale. It may be small in size. It is mighty in spirit. The residents may appear poor, they are rich in their souls. In the same vein, we advise the Federal Ministry of Works to respect the ‘C of O’ on the property. It is impunity, lawlessness and wickedness to subject owners of buildings to stress and fear after they have satisfied all righteousness on a property by obtaining the ‘C of O’.
Professor Ishaq Akintola,
Director,
Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
