Kaduna State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has raised the alarm over an alleged plan to demolish one of the oldest Anglican churches in Zaria, following a quit notice issued to it by the state government.
CAN, therefore, drew Governor Nasir El-Rufai’s attention to the seven-day notice issued by the Kaduna State Urban Planning Development Agency (KASUPDA) for the demolition of Saint George’s Anglican Church in Sabon Gari, Zaria, which was built about 110 years ago.
A statement issued on 18th September, 2019 by CAN State Chairman, Reverend Joseph Hayab noted that the seven-day quit notice was purported to be a directive from Governor El-Rufai.
“The undated notice, addressed to: House No. 27, Church House, Sabon Gari Market, Zaria, which houses the St George’s Church, also claimed that compensation had been paid to the Church.
“Reference to the governor’s directive on the issue of Market development which compensation has been dually paid. However, you are hereby directed to vacate your resident within seven days from now, failure to comply will leave the Agency with no option than to evict you at your own expense,” the notice reads.
However, CAN also disclosed that the signatory to the quit notice did not include his name, but it was rather signed by zonal head of KASUPDA on behalf of the Zonal Manager, saying: “We are alarm and apprehensive about this, if it is true that it is a directive from the governor, but we doubt it very much if the governor issued the directive.
“This is because in February 2016, the state government made moves to relocate the Church to pave way for the expansion of the market, but later realised that the Church has all valid documents and that even some parts of the market fall on the Church’s land.”
