* 50-year-old mosque raises funds for reconstruction
The Oki Central Mosque in Iyana-Ipaja, Abule-Oki, Lagos, has appealed to Muslims, philanthropists, Islamic organisations, corporate bodies and other well-meaning individuals to support efforts to relocate seven high-tension electricity cables passing directly above the roof of the mosque and raise funds for its reconstruction.
The mosque, which has served generations of Muslims in the community since 1976, is used for daily prayers and Jumu’ah. Its management said the cables have become a major obstacle to plans to reconstruct and modernise the mosque.
Speaking on the situation, the Chief Imam of Oki Central Kingdom Mosque, Imam Isa Olushola Sulaimon, appealed to individuals and organisations to come to the aid of the mosque.
Sulaimon said the mosque had existed for about 50 years, having been built by their forefathers who worshipped and served there.
According to him, the mosque has not recorded tangible development over the years largely because of a lack of funds, but the current executives and a newly appointed committee are determined to change the situation.
He said the leadership wants to reconstruct the mosque into a modern, ultra-modern facility that will be suitable for the present generation.
Seven cables directly above mosque roof
Sulaimon said seven high-tension cables currently pass directly above the roof of the mosque, making their relocation a major priority before meaningful reconstruction can take place.
He said the mosque leadership had been seeking assistance to relocate the cables but had so far been unable to secure the required support.
“If these cables can be relocated, we can proceed with the reconstruction of the mosque,” he said.
Sulaimon added that the community had mobilised some funds locally, but the amount raised was not enough to address the major needs of the mosque.
He said members of the community and visitors had continued to observe that the mosque needed to be better developed and constructed.
How the cables got there
The Chairman of Oki Central Mosque, Alhaji Jimoh Lawal, said the high-tension cables were not originally positioned over the mosque.
According to him, the situation arose during the construction of Oki Road leading into the community, when several electricity poles were removed.
Lawal said that when the poles were subsequently repositioned, they were placed directly over the mosque, resulting in the present situation.
He described the cables as the main obstacle preventing the community from commencing meaningful development and reconstruction work on the mosque.
“These cables are currently the main obstacle preventing any development or construction progress on the mosque. Every step we have taken to resolve this issue has been unsuccessful,” Lawal said.
He said the community had approached the electricity company, Ikeja Electric Distribution Company, over the relocation of the cables but had been unable to meet the financial requirement.
According to Lawal, amounts ranging from ₦3 million to ₦5 million had been mentioned for the relocation, which the community could not afford.
Community seeks wider support
Lawal said the community had also raised a small amount of money towards the mosque project, but the funds were nowhere near what was required.
He appealed for support to enable the mosque leadership resolve the cable issue and proceed with its reconstruction.
“This mosque has been standing since 1976. Generations of our forefathers served and maintained this mosque before it came to our turn,” he said.
Lawal said the current generation wanted to make a positive change and leave behind a modern mosque that would serve the community better than it had in previous generations.
He therefore appealed for financial assistance, saying the mosque leadership was determined to transform the facility but could not achieve the objective without substantial support.
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