*Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC Executive Director.
The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has urged the Nigerian Police authorities to ensure that a contractor handling the reconstruction of a church and mosque at Ijeh Police Barracks, Obalende, Lagos, rebuilds both places of worship in line with the terms of the contract.
The Islamic human rights organisation also called on the police to address allegations that the portion of land allocated for the mosque was smaller than that allocated for the church, insisting that both religious communities should be treated fairly.
MURIC made the call in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by its Founder and Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.
The organisation alleged that the contractor handling the project had begun work on the church but was unwilling to rebuild the mosque because he was a Catholic.
MURIC, however, stressed that the allegation required the attention of the police authorities, arguing that a contractor engaged to reconstruct both buildings should not allow personal religious beliefs to interfere with the execution of the project.
The organisation said the two places of worship were demolished between August 31 and September 1, 2026, adding that the barracks accommodated a significant number of Muslim and Christian police officers and their families.
According to MURIC, the presence of both religious communities makes it important for the police to ensure that the reconstruction project is carried out without discrimination.
“The contractor should not build the church alone because doing so will not only contravene the terms of the contract but will also amount to a manifestation of religious extremism,” the statement said.
The group argued that anyone who could not separate personal religious convictions from professional responsibilities should not handle a project involving places of worship belonging to different faiths.
MURIC urged the police authorities to investigate the allegation and ensure that the contractor either completed both buildings or relinquished the job if he was unwilling to fulfil the contractual obligations.
It warned that allowing one place of worship to be rebuilt while the other was abandoned could undermine public confidence in the police and heighten religious tensions.
The organisation also emphasised that public funds were expected to finance the reconstruction of both buildings, noting that taxpayers from different religious backgrounds contributed to government revenue.
“It should be noted that the money expected to be spent on both the church and mosque is public money. It is taxpayers’ money. It means money taken from both Muslims and Christians,” MURIC said.
The group questioned why public resources should be used to rebuild one place of worship while the other was allegedly being excluded from the project.
Beyond the reconstruction dispute, MURIC raised concerns about the sizes of the land portions reportedly allocated to the two religious communities.
The organisation alleged that the church was allocated 108 feet while the mosque received 68 feet, describing the disparity as unacceptable without a clear explanation from the authorities.
It called on the police to disclose the criteria used to determine the land allocations, insisting that the decision should be guided by fairness, transparency and equal treatment.
MURIC maintained that neither the alleged refusal to rebuild the mosque nor the reported disparity in land allocation should be ignored by the authorities.
“If Nigeria is a land of justice, fairness and equal rights, a contractor cannot build the church alone and refuse to build the mosque after signing a contract to build both,” the statement said.
The organisation added that the police authorities should explain the basis for the reported difference in the sizes of land allocated to the two places of worship.
To reinforce its position on religious tolerance, MURIC cited a report alleging that the Vatican had provided a prayer space for Muslim visitors, arguing that religious accommodation and mutual respect should be encouraged in workplaces and public institutions.
The group also reiterated its opposition to practices that allegedly prevent Muslim workers from observing their daily prayers or attending Friday congregational prayers.
MURIC urged the police authorities to intervene promptly, ensure that the reconstruction of the church and mosque proceeded simultaneously, and resolve the land-allocation concerns in a manner acceptable to both religious communities.