Uba Sani, governor of Kaduna state, has flagged off the reconstruction of the Malam Abdulkarim Juma’at Mosque in Zaria.
The 187-year-old worship centre partially collapsed in August 2023, resulting in the loss of six lives and injuring 10 others.
Ahmed Bamalli, Emir of Zazzau, had previously stated that the mosque’s walls developed cracks, and there were plans to repair them before the incident.
At the flag-off ceremony on Sunday, Governor Sani expressed gratitude to donors who contributed to the project.
“The speed and manner in which people responded is a testament to the high esteem in which this great monument is held and the place of religion in our personal and national life,” he said.
Over ₦2 billion has been raised for the project since a fundraising committee was inaugurated last October.
Governor Sani assured that the reconstruction would be completed within 18 months.
The governor thanked AbdulSamad Rabiu, the chief fundraiser, and lauded Ahmed Bamalli for “working round the clock to ensure that a befitting edifice is erected here”.
He encouraged further donations, stating that “those who donated to the rebuilding of the mosque will benefit in the hereafter”.
Governor Sani described the commencement of the project as “the beginning of the journey of restoration” and pledged his administration’s support for projects that honour the cultural and religious heritage of the state.
