Lagos Central Mosque

Lagos Central Mosque stands on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street in the commercial heart of Lagos Island, one of the city's busiest trading streets. It is one of the most visible religious landmarks on the island. The present building opened on 28 May 1988. It replaced an earlier central mosque that was completed in July 1913 and demolished in 1983 to make way for a larger building.

The mosque was built by the contractor G. Cappa. Its central dome, about 15 metres across, is clad in gold-coloured aluminium and can be seen from the surrounding streets, while four minarets mark the corners: two tall towers on the east and west wings and two smaller ones above the entrance. The site covers about an acre, with a frontage of roughly 50 metres on Nnamdi Azikiwe Street. Through the entrance you pass into an arcade and courtyard before the prayer hall of about 750 square metres. The complex also contains offices, a reference library, an Islamic centre and accommodation for the Chief Imam.

The mosque is above all a place of worship, especially at Friday midday prayers, when the surrounding streets fill with worshippers. Visitors who are not Muslim usually see it from the outside or ask permission at the entrance to look into the courtyard outside prayer times. Dress modestly, with arms and legs covered, and women should bring a scarf to cover their hair. Remove shoes where asked, keep your voice low and always ask before photographing people.

The building is worth seeing for anyone interested in architecture or the religious life of Lagos, which has large Muslim and Christian communities living side by side. It also makes a good starting point for exploring the old core of Lagos Island, including the markets and the streets of the former Brazilian Quarter. Ten to twenty minutes is enough to admire the exterior and courtyard. Weekday mornings are calmer than Fridays.

Nnamdi Azikiwe Street is often congested with traders and traffic, so it is easiest to arrive by ride-hailing car and walk the last stretch, keeping valuables out of sight in the crowds. A local guide is helpful for a first visit to this part of Lagos Island. The Cathedral Church of Christ and Freedom Park are a short distance to the south and east.