Plateau bans road blockades by churches, mosques

Plateau State Governor, Caleb Mutfwang, has banned churches and mosques from blocking roads during worship.

The governor also asked all worship centers to provide the building approvals of their worship centers issued by the Jos Metropolitan Development Board or face penalties.

Our correspondent reports that since 2014, road blockage by churches and mosques became a common feature in Jos when terrorists appeared to be targeting worship centres with bombs.

Although bomb explosions had stopped in Jos, both churches and mosques had continued to block the roads during their worship hours especially on Sundays and Fridays, causing serious hitches to motorists and other road users alike.

But in separate letters addressed to the state Chairmen of the Christian Association of Nigeria and Jama’atu Nasril Islam, the government said the decision to ban the road blockades is part of the implementation of Executive Order 003 which was recently signed by Mutfwang.

One of the letters dated June 13, 2024, and signed by the general manager of JMDB, Hart Bankat, and sighted by our correspondent in Jos on Sunday read in part, “Following the Executive Order 003 of the Governor of Plateau state Barrister Caleb Mutfwang signed on the 1st of March 2024 for the control of Building/Vehicular traffic, I convey the ban of blockage of access roads and advise that all worship centers should provide appropriate parking spaces off the main roads during worship for their worshippers.

“All Worship centers should provide building approvals issued by the JMDB to avoid penalties. The Government solicits with the spiritual leaders to help advise their members to be law-abiding citizens to encourage them to comply with the laid down laws.”

The state Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, confirmed receiving the letter when contacted by our correspondent.

“Yes, we have received the letter. We have no problem with the government directive,” the CAN chairman stated.

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