Buhari orders return of Obalende Eid Prayer ground to Lagos Muslims
The outgoing President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has ordered that the control of Obalende Eid Prayer Ground be surrendered to the Lagos Jama’atul Muslimeen Council of the Lagos Central Mosque.
President Buhari in a statement by his media aide, Garba Shehu, directed that the “desecration of the Obalende Eid Prayer Ground by its profane use as a dump site should stop with immediate effect” and to this effect, the Dodan Barracks authorities should remove all containers and debris from the prayer ground.
This order was sequel to the report of Special Committee set up to investigate and report to him the issues in conflict between the Lagos Muslim Community on one hand and Federal Government Agencies, particularly those who managed and controlled the land.
President Buhari directed all the concerned government agencies to “recognise and respect the fact that the Obalende Eid Prayer Ground legally belongs to the Jama’atul Muslimeen Council of the Lagos Central Mosque.”
He also directed that the Dodan Barracks authorities to “ensure that the Muslim Communities and their agents have unrestricted access to the Obalende Eid Prayer Ground at all times.”
H
e then called on the Government of Lagos State to, “if deemed fit, (to) grant the Jama’atal Muslimeen Council a Certificate of Occupancy over the area identified in the Survey Plan.”
The Committee that carried out the assignment as directed by the President under the leadership of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to the President included the Minister of Works and Housing, the Minister of Defence, the Director-General of the DSS and the Chief of Defence Staff and the Permanent Secretary, State House.