The Kaduna state government has made a U-turn over its decision to charge N500, 000 from the Tijaniyya sect in the state for the use of the Murtala Muhammad Square for Eid prayer.
The square has been used for Eid prayers for over 50 years.
The Tijaniyya Mosque at Doka Road, Kaduna, had sought the approval of Kaduna State Market Development and Management Company to use the Eid ground.
But the state agency attached an invoice of N500, 000 to its response letter dated July 6, 2022, asking the Tijaniyya Mosque management to pay the sum in five days.
“You may recall our numerous engagements on this issue since 2020. Further to this, we will allow you to use the square for the last time for Eid prayers. To this end, you are required to pay the sum of N500, 000 only,” the agency’s letter, sighted by Daily Trust, said.
The letter was greeted with widespread outrage as many condemned the action of the state government.
However, the state government has reversed its decision following the public outrage that trailed the payment request.
The Secretary of the Murtala Muhammad Eid Ground, Malam Sunusi Surajo, confirmed the N500,000 request.
He said: “It is true that we were asked to pay N500,000 before using the Eid ground but we spoke with a government representative and the government reversed its decision, saying that we should go ahead and use the square without payment.” he told Daily Trust.
A Kaduna-based Islamic Scholar and one of the preachers at the Murtala Square Mosque, Shaikh Haliru Maraya, described the government reversal as an afterthought.
He said the government’s decision came to them as a surprise because Muslims had been praying at the square many years ago.
The Market Development and Management Company, in a statement yesterday by its Managing Director, Tamar Nandul, said Governor Nasir El-rufai has approved a waiver for the mosque.
“We are pleased to inform you of the governor’s decision to waive the fee for the use of the square for Eid prayer,” Nandul said.