The Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Ilorin Central Juma'at Mosque has revealed how a prolonged water crisis forced repeated drilling of over 30 boreholes before a viable source was finally discovered on the mosque premises.

The disclosure formed part of updates presented during the mosque's 2025/2026 joint stakeholders' meeting held in Ilorin.

Officials reviewed ongoing projects, financial challenges, and support received from donors during the event.

According to the Secretary of the BoT, Alhaji Shehu AbdulGafar, initial efforts to provide water failed due to the difficult topography of the mosque and surrounding palace environment, leading to repeated unsuccessful drilling attempts.

Relief, he stated, eventually came when an engineering team led by Engr Muideen Bello deployed improved equipment and successfully located water in a small but sustainable portion of the site.

He stated that the operation, which began before dawn prayers and stretched into the night, marked a turning point in solving the mosque's long-standing water supply challenge.

During the event, the trustees also highlighted a major intervention that led to the proposed construction of a N1.1 billion student hostel at the University of Ilorin.

According to him, the project was facilitated through high-level engagement involving the Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), who helped attract the participation of Alhaji Aliko Dangote in funding the initiative as part of a broader sustainability plan for the mosque.

Aside from the pledge to construct the hostel, he stated that Dangote currently provides a monthly N5 million support for the mosque's maintenance, a commitment that has been consistently fulfilled since October last year.

He explained that the arrangement followed an assessment of the mosque's monthly maintenance needs, which was estimated at about N5 million but has since risen due to inflation and currency pressures.

He noted that rising energy costs, including electricity bills exceeding N1 million monthly and diesel consumption approaching N700,000, have continued to strain operations.

Despite the challenges, AbdulGafar stated that several improvement projects were completed within the year, including the installation of 20 solar-powered security lights, refurbishment of solar systems, repainting of the mosque's dome, and the installation of a solar-powered pumping machine.

He also listed ongoing works such as fountain renovation, internet facility restoration, and replacement of damaged internal speaker systems.

On long-term infrastructure plans, he disclosed that N40 million earlier raised for a new mosque carpet since 2021 had become insufficient, as current costs now exceed N100 million, leaving the project stalled.

He added that the mosque currently has no stable income base and remains heavily dependent on donations, prompting outreach efforts to stakeholders in Abuja, Lagos, and within Kwara State.

The committee further appealed for sustained collective support, warning that without continuous intervention, the upkeep of the historic religious edifice could become increasingly difficult.

He thanked the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and other benefactors for their continued support, describing the mosque as a shared heritage that must be preserved for future generations.

"This iconic mosque is not only for the people of Ilorin Emirate but for the entire Muslim ummah. That is why you see that we are constantly embarking on renovation, and you may think it is newly constructed whenever you visit.

"However, this requires funding, and that is why we are calling on all to support our efforts to keep its world-class status," he submitted.