Lagos set to conduct census on churches, mosques

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OrijoReporter.com, Lagos church census

Religious centres, particularly churches and mosques in Lagos are to be officially enumerated, the state government disclosed this on Wednesday.

Read also: Lagos warns churches, mosques against noise pollution, bans Live band music in beer bars, restaurants

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode spoke of the census on religious centres while inaugurating 798 members of the Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC)  appointed for the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas in the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul Hakeem Abdul-Lateef, charged the  new interfaith council’s members with the responsibility of conducting the exercise.

He said, “One of the core functions you are going to discharge is the collation of religious institutions at the local government level. You must ensure you compile a list of all churches, all mosques, all faith-based organisations and forward same to the Ministry of Home Affairs.

“I must also urge you to work closely with the local government chairmen and all other officials at the local government level. You are working directly with NIREC at the state level.”

Speaking on behalf of his colleagues, NIREC Co-Chairman (Muslim), Dr. Tajudeen Yusuf, hailed Gov. Ambode for inaugurating the council, saying it was a proactive step that would sustain the peaceful coexistence among people of diverse religious and ethnic groups in the state.

“Today, we are inaugurating the members of NIREC at grassroots and it is a proactive step on the part of our governor to ensure the monumental development that Lagos state is witnessing is not taken for granted.

“We are, by this inauguration, taking inter-religious dialogue to the grassroots so that when crises arise, they are quickly nipped in the bud,’’ Yusuf said.

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