Lagos Mosques Urged to Strengthen Records, Governance and Hygiene
Islamic scholars and professionals have called on mosque leaders in Lagos to improve record keeping, strengthen governance and maintain cleaner facilities, warning that neglect in these areas could put mosque properties and long term operations at risk.
The call came at the annual programme of the Mosque Guidance and Development Lagos Initiative, held in Lagos on Sunday. The event focused on documentation, good governance and hygiene in mosque administration.
Delivering the keynote address, Lagos State University professor Saheed Timehin said sound records and responsible management were vital to the future of mosques. He noted that some lacked reliable documents covering land, finances, activities and membership, leaving them vulnerable to disputes and the loss of assets.
Timehin urged mosque leaders to safeguard land titles, survey plans, waqf deeds and registration certificates. He also recommended written constitutions, recorded meeting minutes, succession plans and maintenance records to support continuity and accountability.
On sanitation, he called for regular cleaning of prayer halls, toilets, ablution areas and water tanks. He also encouraged mosques to set up sanitation committees, establish cleaning schedules, allocate funds and manage waste properly.
Initiative chairman Musoddiq Adele Sanni said the programme grew out of concerns about mosque demolitions in Lagos. He said investigations found that some properties had been sold or demolished because donors had not legally transferred ownership to the mosques. The initiative began with a public awareness programme in October 2023 and now includes more than 20 professionals, among them lawyers, journalists, surveyors and engineers.
Lagos State Grand Chief Imam Sulaiman Abou Nolla stressed that legal documents were essential to protecting mosque property. He advised mosque managers to secure title documents before construction and follow the required legal procedures.
Former Lagos Commissioner for Home Affairs Muhammad Bello Danmole called for committees to support effective mosque administration. During a panel discussion, former commissioner Abdul Hakeem Abdul Lateef urged mosques to adopt written constitutions, clear succession plans and electronic records. He cautioned against treating mosques as personal establishments, arguing that collective management and accountability were essential.
Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency General Manager Oladimeji Animashaun said mosques should have title documents, survey plans and planning approvals to reduce the risk of demolition. He also urged leaders to regularise buildings that lack the necessary approvals.
Surveyor Adegbenga Ojikutu warned that treating mosque land as family property could expose it to unlawful sale or commercial encroachment. He advised donors to complete transfer documents, obtain the governor’s consent where required and register properties in the mosque’s name.
Satellite Town Chief Imam Abdul Raham Dauda raised concerns about poor sanitation in some mosques. He urged leaders to provide cleaning supplies, appoint cleaners and enforce hygiene rules, warning that dirty facilities could discourage worshippers and increase the spread of disease.
Moderator Shakirah Adunola said strong documentation, good governance and cleanliness were necessary to preserve mosques’ spiritual and community roles.
Zoyols News
