Don’t rebuild Ijeh Police Barracks Church alone, rebuild Mosque too, MURIC tells contractor
By KEMI KASUMU
The Islamic human rights organisation alleged that the contractor had commenced work on the church but vowed not to rebuild the mosque because he was a Catholic.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has called on the contractor handling the reconstruction of a church and mosque at Ijeh Police Barracks, Obalende, Lagos, to ensure that both places of worship are rebuilt in line with the terms of the contract.
The Islamic human rights organisation alleged that the contractor had commenced work on the church but vowed not to rebuild the mosque because he was a Catholic.
MURIC urged the Nigerian Police authorities to intervene, warning that rebuilding only the church would raise concerns about religious fairness, accountability and the use of public funds.
The organisation’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, made the appeal in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
According to MURIC, the two places of worship were demolished between August 31 and September 1, 2026.
The group described Ijeh Police Barracks, located along St. Gregory’s College Road, Ikoyi, as a major police residential community with a significant population of Muslim and Christian officers and their families.
It argued that both religious communities should enjoy equal consideration in the provision of places of worship within the barracks.
“If true, therefore, this report is not only saddening, it is also disturbing and disgusting,” the statement said, referring to the allegation that the contractor had refused to rebuild the mosque.
MURIC maintained that the contractor should not undertake the reconstruction of the church while abandoning the mosque, insisting that both projects should proceed simultaneously.
It further argued that a contractor’s personal religious beliefs should not determine the execution of a professional assignment involving places of worship belonging to different religious communities.
The organisation called on the police authorities to address the matter and ensure that the contractor fulfilled the obligations attached to the project.
MURIC also raised concerns about the alleged disparity in the land allocated to the two religious buildings.
According to the group, the area designated for the church was reportedly 108 feet, compared with 68 feet for the mosque.
It questioned the basis for the difference, arguing that the police authorities should explain the criteria used in allocating the spaces.
“Neither can the police authorities allegedly allocate 108 feet for Christians but give just 68 feet to the Muslims without explaining the parameters adopted,” the statement said.
The organisation added that the use of public funds to finance the reconstruction made transparency and accountability particularly important, noting that taxpayers from both religious communities contributed to government revenue.
MURIC also cited reports of religious accommodation elsewhere, arguing that the promotion of religious tolerance required consideration for Muslims and Christians in public institutions and workplaces.
The group called for the two buildings to be reconstructed concurrently, urging the contractor to relinquish the assignment if his personal beliefs prevented him from carrying out both aspects of the project.
It appealed to the police authorities to investigate and resolve the two issues raised: the alleged refusal to rebuild the mosque and the reported difference in the land allocated to the church and mosque.
MURIC said the matter should be addressed in accordance with the principles of fairness, justice and equal rights.
