Kemenag NTB Opens Dozens of Mosques for Migrant Worker Rest Stops

Travellers passing through West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) during the Idul Fitri 1447 Hijri celebration need not worry about finding rest areas. Dozens of mosques along major roads will be kept open around the clock to serve as safe and comfortable transit points.

Zamroni Aziz, Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) NTB, said the policy was a follow-up to instructions from the Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar. All mosques along the routes used by returning migrants on Lombok and Sumbawa islands have been prepared as stopover points during their journey.

“We have been running this programme for several years. We are also coordinating with our colleagues at the district and city Kemenag offices whose jurisdictions fall along the migration routes,” said Zamroni on Sunday (1/23/2026).

He explained that mosques positioned along the return routes are scattered across East Lombok, northern Central Lombok, Mataram City, and West Lombok. On Sumbawa Island, mosques along the migrant routes are located in West Sumbawa Regency, Sumbawa, Dompu and Bima.

To ensure security, Kemenag NTB requested that district and city Kemenag offices coordinate with the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and National Police (Polri).

“We have asked the district and city Kemenag offices to coordinate with TNI and Polri colleagues on how mosques near the highways used by migrants can also become safe and comfortable places for them to rest whilst waiting to continue their journey,” Zamroni added.

Zamroni stressed that all mosques along major roads must keep their gates open around the clock, particularly in transit areas such as West Lombok, Mataram City, and East Lombok.

“On Sumbawa Island, almost all areas are covered by these routes. We have already instructed district and city Kemenag offices to coordinate with the police so we can work together to make mosques part of the safe rest stops for migrants,” he emphasised.

He hopes that migrants using mosque facilities will maintain order and cleanliness. District and city Kemenag offices have also been asked to promptly submit lists of mosques that can serve as rest stops for returning migrants.

“This comes directly from instructions from the central Kemenag, and we will certainly pass this on to the regions,” he concluded.