The Christian community of the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (LSDPC) scheme at Isheri North has petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu over the allocation of land for a mosque within the estate.

In a letter published in a national newspaper, the residents warned that the development risked reigniting religious tension and placing further strain on the estate’s infrastructure.

They recalled that some years ago, LSDPC allocated a plot for a mosque inside the estate, a decision that was strongly opposed by residents. The opposition was based on a resolution to keep the estate strictly residential, without educational institutions, markets, factories, worship centres or other public amenities.

According to the community, the earlier dispute led to a major religious crisis and a court case. It was eventually resolved with the allocation of plots of land outside the estate wall, by the front gate, for a police post, a mosque, a church and a shopping complex.

The Christian community said it was surprised to learn that the plot earlier allocated to them had been reallocated to another person. They expressed alarm at the development and made their grievances known, but claimed LSDPC insisted on having its way.

Residents argued that the latest allocation violated the residential-only character of the estate and could overload existing facilities such as roads and the electricity network.

They called on the governor to intervene and restore what they described as the Christian community’s rights in the estate.