Ogun Government Threatens Demolition of 25-Year-Old Ibara Mosque, Issues Seven-Day Quit Notice

The Ogun State Government has issued a seven-day notice to quit and threatened the demolition of the Ibara Housing Estate Mosque, located within the Ibara GRA in Abeokuta. The mosque, which has reportedly stood for over 25 years, was served the directive on Tuesday, November 5, 2025.

The quit notice, signed by the General Manager of the Ogun State Planning and Development Permit Authority, directed the mosque community to vacate the premises within one week. The notice explicitly warned that the government would not be liable for any damages or losses suffered during the impending demolition exercise.

A section of the notice read: “You are hereby informed to vacate the property within seven days from the date of service of this notice… Please note that the 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.”

The notice was reportedly served immediately after the Zuhr (noon) prayer by a government official.

While mosque management claimed they had not previously received any contravention notice, an official “Notice of Contravention” was served on the same day as the quit notice. This second document, signed by the same General Manager, outlined the alleged offenses:

* “Change of use from residential to mosque (public) within Ibara GRA.”

* Carrying out “suspected development without permission.”

The contravention notice gave the mosque’s management 24 hours to submit all relevant planning documents, including a development permit, or restore the property to its original residential state within seven days, failing which demolition would follow.

Members of the mosque community have expressed deep concern over what they view as a “sudden and unfair” action by the government, given the structure’s long presence in the estate.