...gives 7- day quit notice
The Ogun State Government has issued a seven-day quit notice to the Ibara Housing Estate Mosque in Abeokuta, sparking outrage among worshippers who described the move as sudden, unfair, and suspicious.
The over 25-year-old mosque, located within the high-brow Ibara GRA, was served the notice immediately after the Zuhr (noon) prayer on Tuesday by an official believed to be from the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority.
The notice, dated November 5, 2025, and signed by the General Manager, Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, directed the mosque community to vacate the premises within seven days, warning that the government would not be liable for any damages or losses during the demolition exercise.
However, on the same day the quit notice was delivered, another document titled “Notice of Contravention” was also served, signed by the same General Manager.
The contravention notice accused the mosque of “change of use from residential to mosque (public) within Ibara GRA” and of carrying out “suspected development without permission.”
It directed the mosque’s management to submit all relevant planning documents, including a development permit, within 24 hours or restore the property to its original residential state within seven days.
The second notice stated, “It appears that the provisions of the Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law No. 61 of 2022 and the enabling regulations of the State have been contravened in respect thereof.
“If you dispute the contraventions, you are requested to bring all documents in support of your case, including your planning permit, to the undersigned within 24 hours of the service of this notice.
“If you fail to remove the said contravention(s) within seven days from the date of service of this notice, the said contravention shall be demolished after the service of notice of demolition on you/the property.”
Members of the mosque community have expressed concern over what they described as a “sudden and unfair” move by the government, especially given the mosque’s long-standing presence in the estate.
Part of the notice reads, “Sequel to our Notice of Contravention served on you, you are hereby informed to vacate the property within seven days from the date of service of this notice.
You are advised to remove all valuables within the specified time.
Authority will not be liable for any loss suffered by you or claim for compensation whatsoever for any removable property damaged or destroyed during the impending demolition of the development. You are warned.”
Worshippers were astonished on Tuesday when a government official, suspected to be from the Planning and Development Permit Authority, served the notice immediately after the Zuhr (noon) prayer.
Investigations revealed that the mosque management had not previously been served any contravention notice by the government.
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