Nigeria : Tension in Enugu As Govt Demolishes Churches
ICC Note
"The church building that was purportedly demolished yesterday was not the only one that has been marked by the government and my ministry. . We want to claim back the area where the Living Praise Chapel was, so that the people can use it for what it was originally designated for."
By Tony Edike
April 2, 2008 Nigeria (allafrica.com)- Enugu -the demolition of some churches in Enugu metropolis which were said to have been built on illegally acquired premises by Enugu State Government is generating tension among Christians in the state.
The Living Praise Chapel in Uwani area of Enugu was demolished yesterday ahead of the 7-day eviction notice served on the church by the State Ministry of Environment. The government had last week pulled down the Arm of God Church, Isiochi also in Uwani, Enugu over what it described as contravention of environmental planning regulations.
When contacted, Agu said that the land where the church was sited was meant for waste disposal, adding that the Certificate of Occupancy granted to the church by the erstwhile administration was illegal. "The church building that was purportedly demolished yesterday was not the only one that has been marked by the government and my ministry. The reason being that the place is an open space for ESWAMA, it is supposed to be for refuse disposal. We are trying to reclaim our dump sites that were illegally concessioned lands given out to individuals. We want to claim back the area where the Living Praise Chapel was, so that the people can use it for what it was originally designated for."
