MURIC Accuses Police Contractor of Refusing to Rebuild Mosque at Lagos Barracks, Demands Equal Treatment

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the Nigerian Police authorities to ensure that a contractor rebuilding religious worship centres at Ijeh Police Barracks in Obalende, Lagos, reconstructs both the mosque and the church, following allegations that the contractor intends to abandon the mosque because of his religious affiliation.

MURIC alleged that the contractor, who has reportedly commenced work on the church, refused to rebuild the mosque because he is a Catholic. The organisation called on the police authorities to investigate the allegation and ensure that both projects are completed in accordance with the terms of the contract.

In a press statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, the group’s Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, said rebuilding one worship centre while leaving the other unattended would raise concerns about religious fairness, accountability and the use of public funds.

The organisation said the church and mosque were demolished between August 31 and September 1, 2026, and that the reconstruction project should provide for both Christian and Muslim worshippers living in the barracks.

Ijeh Police Barracks, located along St. Gregory’s College Road in Ikoyi, accommodates police personnel and their families, including Muslims and Christians. MURIC argued that providing worship facilities for both religious communities was important to maintaining fairness and peaceful coexistence.

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The group said the alleged refusal to rebuild the mosque, if established, would violate the terms of the contract and undermine confidence in the process.

MURIC urged the police authorities to call the contractor to order and ensure that work on both buildings progressed simultaneously. It also suggested that the contractor should be replaced if personal religious convictions prevented him from carrying out the full assignment.

The organisation further raised concerns about the reported allocation of land for the two worship centres, alleging that the church had been allocated 108 feet while the mosque was allocated 68 feet.

It called on the police authorities to explain the basis for the difference, arguing that the allocation should be guided by transparent and fair criteria.

MURIC also questioned the use of public funds for a project that, according to its account, was intended to cover both buildings. It maintained that taxpayers from different religious backgrounds contributed to public revenue and should receive equal consideration in the provision of public facilities.

The organisation cited reports concerning the provision of prayer space for Muslim visitors at the Vatican as an example of religious accommodation. It also raised broader concerns about alleged restrictions on Muslim workers and students seeking to observe Friday congregational prayers, known as Jumu’ah.

The group called on the police authorities to address both the alleged refusal to rebuild the mosque and the reported difference in land allocation, stressing that the issues required clarification to prevent further religious tension.

As of the time of the statement, MURIC’s allegations against the contractor and its claims concerning the land allocation had not been independently verified. There was also no response from the police authorities or the contractor included in the organisation’s press release.

The police authorities’ response, alongside clarification of the contract terms and land allocation, would help establish the circumstances surrounding the reconstruction project.