Islamic scholars and other professionals have urged mosque administrators across Lagos State to improve property documentation, financial accountability, governance and sanitation to protect religious institutions from disputes, mismanagement and possible demolition.
The call was made during the anniversary programme of the Mosque Guidance and Development Lagos Initiative (MGDLI), held in Lagos under the theme, “Building Better Mosques: Documentation, Good Governance and Hygiene Environment.”
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Saheed Olurotimi Timehin of Lagos State University (LASU) said inadequate record-keeping could expose mosques to ownership disputes, unlawful sales and the loss of properties donated for religious purposes.
He urged mosque leaders to maintain proper land titles, survey plans, registration certificates, financial statements, donation records, project accounts and administrative documents.
Timehin also encouraged the adoption of written constitutions, meeting minutes, succession plans and secure electronic record-keeping systems to promote transparency and ensure continuity in mosque administration.
On sanitation, the scholar called for regular cleaning of prayer halls, toilets and ablution facilities, as well as adequate water supply, proper drainage and effective waste management.
He recommended the establishment of sanitation committees, cleaning schedules and dedicated maintenance budgets to ensure that mosques remain safe and hygienic for worshippers.
The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Abou-Nolla, also stressed the importance of securing legal ownership documents before commencing mosque construction. He urged religious institutions to comply with relevant land laws and planning regulations.
Similarly, former Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, advocated collective administration, clear responsibilities and proper succession planning, warning against running mosques as personal establishments.
The General Manager of the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency, Dr Oladimeji Animashaun, also advised mosque administrators to obtain the necessary title documents, survey plans and planning approvals, while regularising properties developed without the required authorisations.
Chairman of MGDLI, Alhaji Musoddiq Adele-Sanni, explained that the initiative was established following concerns about mosque demolitions, disputed ownership and the sale of religious properties. He said investigations into some cases revealed that donors had failed to legally transfer donated land to the mosques, leaving the properties vulnerable to claims by their families.
The stakeholders maintained that proper documentation, transparent governance and good sanitation were essential to preserving mosques as centres of worship, learning and community development.
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