The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, MFM, a popular church in Enugu was, yesterday, demolished by Enugu State Government.
The large worship centre, located at the foot of the ZikAvenueBridge in EnuguState capital, was demolished after it was said to be sitting illegally on two plots of about 2,000 square metres.
The pastors and members of the church, who were said to have been praying for God’s intervention in the matter since the government declared its intention to demolish the building last year, watched helplessly as four bulldozers reduced the one-storey structure to rubble.
They rushed into the building and moved the church property to one side of the auditorium, pleading with the officials of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, who were supervising the demolition, to spare the property.
Law enforcement agents, comprising men of the Police Mobile Force and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, prevented some youths of the church from stopping ECTDA officials from demolishing the structure. No arrests were made.
In court
Enugu government had declared the building illegal, saying it was built along the Asata stream, allegedly violating the state’s town planning laws.
However, the church had dragged the state government to court and obtained an injunction restraining government from demolishing the building.
But while the matter was in court, government allocated another land to the church with a directive to the church leaders to relocate without delay.
The alternative allocation was situated at Emeka Ebilla Avenue off Agbani Road, but the church was said to be reluctant in relocating the popular worship centre, insisting that government must pay compensation to enable it erect another building at the new location.
Government, however, declined and reportedly gave the church some months to vacate the building, which was thereafter marked for demolition.
Why we can’t relocate— Pastor
A pastor of the church, Kennedy Udogaranya, said that the church and officials of the state’s Ministry of Lands had engaged in dialogue over the issue, but they were surprised to see government officials with bulldozers yesterday.
He said that the church could not gain access to the new land allocated to them because of the dispute between Ngwo and Amechi people over the land.
He explained that the church had informed the government of the difficulties in relocating to the place and officially requested for time to enable the two communities settle their differences over ownership of the land.
The pastor said that the haste with which the government demolished the building had given the impression that government had other motives for the demolition.
Udogaranya said even though government had given them an alternative location, they should not be evicted in a hurry as the church would not conduct services on an undeveloped plot.
Government reacts
A statement by the Commissioner for Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, Mr. Ikechukwu Ugwuegede, yesterday, said government demolished the structure because “it was illegal and unapproved as an application for approval was considered and rejected in March 2012.”
He said that the reasons for the rejection of the application included “overbuilding of the property, with more than 100 percent built upon, encroaching into stream and road reserves, construction outside the purpose of the property as the area was designated for commercial development and not for institutional use.
“There was evidence of structural instability. There was evidence of failure of some of the reinforced concrete elements at the northern end of the basement area of the structure.”
“No responsible government will stand and permit a predictable catastrophe to befall its people .”
He said government had already identified other structures “which must be brought down to prevent any unsafe condition or illegal structure from remaining.” Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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Mr commisioner wisdom is profitable to direct .there are better ways to handle this.you have just started a battle that will affect even your family and generations unborn.pls Beg God for mercy and redress the situation.haba you get mind o
ReplyDeleteGive to Cesear What is Cesears' and to God what is Gods'
ReplyDeleteif the State plan did not approve for the kind of property you want to put on a piece of land then it is wrong for you to do so. And when a church is involved in building ilegal structures, wht example are you setting for the average Nigerian? Do not forget jesus' word"Give what belongs to Ceaser to Ceaser......" Prayers will not make God compromise wrong for right.
ReplyDeleteAny house builder should respect the law for general good.
ReplyDeleteIt is so amazing and amusing to read the restrained reactions to this story. If the Governor had been a Muslim, these same contributors would have branded him a Boko Haram activist.
ReplyDeleteTrue word @anonymous 4:58pm....when something similar hsppened in lagos last year the first commemt labelled Fashola worse than boko haram.
ReplyDeleteSee the church has got to live by example in nigeria. We should not be the ones erecting buildings without approval nor overbuilding on land allocated to us.
Jesus lived under an unfair roman govt who occupied isreal during his time, the son of God yet he obeyed the laws of the land o.
You can see that an alternative was given to them in contrast to what happens in other places. But my question is "is there any place ever marled for religious activities anywhere in this country? Evil men and anti-christ will always look for an excuse to crucify Christ anytime. It is a battle between them and God. This same area you will see that people have development for other purposes other than the industrial purposes and the government will not demolish them. God is watching.
ReplyDelete