By Philip Yatai

The Management Committee of the Kaduna State University (KASU) has called for calm over the recent demolition of Christian Chapel by Kaduna State Urban Planning and Development Authority.

The University Public Relation Officer, Mr Adamu Nuhu Bargo, said in a statement in Kaduna on Monday that the University Council and State Government have been called upon to intervene.

The proposed chapel was demolished on June 6, on grounds that the construction was without a permit from KASUPDA and as such, violates extant laws.

Bargo said that the Governing Council of the university had on April 14, 2014, approved and directed the university management to allocate a space within the University for the Christian worship centre.

He said that in compliance with the Council’s directive, the management allocated a site for the construction of the worship centre which was later allocated to private hostel developers.

He added that the current site under dispute was temporarily allocated by the Management for the Christian worship centre as an alternative to the earlier allocation.

“The disputed site was under foundational stage construction when it was demolished.

“The management had earlier issued a directive for the stoppage of any construction works on the temporary Christian worship centre in 2021 following a controversy surrounding the site pending Government’s intervention.

“In the meantime, all submissions have been made through the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities on the Master Plan for the main campus indicating places of worship.

“Members of the Christian community and the general public are hereby called upon to maintain calm pending the decision of the State Government, Governing Council and Management,” he said.