Collapsed building
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries has demanded the sum of 250 million Naira (about 1.6 million dollars) from the Enugu State government as compensation for demolsihing their church building in Zik Avenue.
The church insisted that it had not in any way contravened ‘plan regulations’, citing a site analysis report carried out on the demolished Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries’ building.
The report entitled ‘Site Analysis Report on the Remodelling of MFM Church in Enugu’ clearly showed that the recommended setback standard of 10 metres from Asata River, which is in line with the Urban and Regional Planning standard and regulation, was adhered to.
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According to the report, “the location of the Church building does not interfere with the flow of Asata River and will not cause flooding and therefore does not pose any danger to the lives of inhabitants of Enugu or the worshipers. An analysis of rainfall for the past 35 years shows that the annual rainfall has followed the same pattern.”
One of the signatories to the report and a lecturer in the Urban and Regional Planning Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsuka in Enugu State, Dr. Maxwell Nwachukwu, said that the recommendations of the report were not followed by the government.
The Site report was put together by a committee set up by the Commissioner for Capital Territory, Mr. Ik Uguegede to find out if the church followed regulations and advise him.
Abuse Of The Rule Of Law
Speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, ‘Sunrise Daily,’ the councel to the Church, Mr. Bolaji Onilenla, described the demolition of the building as executive lawlessness and thorough abuse of the rule of law.
He said that there was no basis for the demolition, as other buildings around the church were not demolished.
He pointed out that the government contravened court injunction restraining it from demolishing the building.
Onilenla said that the Church obtained approval from the government before the expansion of the Church building which was necessitated by the growth in congregation.
The Church had in 2012 wrote to the court seeking redress after the government informed it that the building would be demolished.
Mr Onilenla alleged that the government refused to appear in court and demanded that the issue should be settled out of court.
Although, the government claimed it had provided a 4,000-metre land for the church to enable the Church relocate but they refused to move to the land, Mr Onilenla said that other persons laid claims to the land provided by the government making it difficult for the church to begin development.
“To enable us move to another location, the MFM is demanding for a compensation of 250 million Naira (about 1.6 million dollars). This will enable it build a new church on the new land when it takes full ownership,” he stressed.
The Government has insisted that the church was expanding contrary to ‘plan regulations’ and encroaching on the Asata River which posed danger to the lives of the public
The church insisted that it had not in any way contravened ‘plan regulations’, citing a site analysis report carried out on the demolished Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries’ building.
The report entitled ‘Site Analysis Report on the Remodelling of MFM Church in Enugu’ clearly showed that the recommended setback standard of 10 metres from Asata River, which is in line with the Urban and Regional Planning standard and regulation, was adhered to.
Read more
According to the report, “the location of the Church building does not interfere with the flow of Asata River and will not cause flooding and therefore does not pose any danger to the lives of inhabitants of Enugu or the worshipers. An analysis of rainfall for the past 35 years shows that the annual rainfall has followed the same pattern.”
One of the signatories to the report and a lecturer in the Urban and Regional Planning Department of the University of Nigeria, Nsuka in Enugu State, Dr. Maxwell Nwachukwu, said that the recommendations of the report were not followed by the government.
The Site report was put together by a committee set up by the Commissioner for Capital Territory, Mr. Ik Uguegede to find out if the church followed regulations and advise him.
Abuse Of The Rule Of Law
Speaking on Channels Television breakfast programme, ‘Sunrise Daily,’ the councel to the Church, Mr. Bolaji Onilenla, described the demolition of the building as executive lawlessness and thorough abuse of the rule of law.
He said that there was no basis for the demolition, as other buildings around the church were not demolished.
He pointed out that the government contravened court injunction restraining it from demolishing the building.
Onilenla said that the Church obtained approval from the government before the expansion of the Church building which was necessitated by the growth in congregation.
The Church had in 2012 wrote to the court seeking redress after the government informed it that the building would be demolished.
Mr Onilenla alleged that the government refused to appear in court and demanded that the issue should be settled out of court.
Although, the government claimed it had provided a 4,000-metre land for the church to enable the Church relocate but they refused to move to the land, Mr Onilenla said that other persons laid claims to the land provided by the government making it difficult for the church to begin development.
“To enable us move to another location, the MFM is demanding for a compensation of 250 million Naira (about 1.6 million dollars). This will enable it build a new church on the new land when it takes full ownership,” he stressed.
The Government has insisted that the church was expanding contrary to ‘plan regulations’ and encroaching on the Asata River which posed danger to the lives of the public
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