NEWS
Cleric Urges Muslim Faithful to Obtain Documentation for Mosques to Avoid Property Forfeiture
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The Chief Imam of Lagos, Sheikh Sulaimon Abu, has urged Muslim communities to have proper documentation of their Mosque property to avoid forfeiting them to government in future.
Abu made the appeal during a one-day sensitisation programme tagged “Mosque Documentation in Lagos State, held in Lagos on Saturday.
He said there were lots of gaps among the Muslim communities concerning the Islamic faith in Lagos.
Abu said that in any place where there was government, there were standards and processes, adding that the Qur’an emphasized on proper documentation of properties.
“In respect of Mosque building, there must be processing such as approval because each state has its own standard, and fore instance in Lagos, there is what we call Master Plan.
” Before embarking on Mosque building, one must follow the due process by approaching the Ministry of Land for proper advice and information.
“At the divisional level, we are going to create legal units to synergise with the Muslim communities in processing proper documentation of Mosque property,” Abu said.
He also pleaded with Nigerians to stop building houses that would block water channel, adding that people were being affected by flooding from water blockage.
The chief imam said that flooding was caused by human factor and urged Lagos residents to obey the law of the land to enable them to coexist peacefully in the society.
A legal practitioner in Lagos, with over 30 years experience, mr Musediq Sanni, said he had discovered from 13 Mosques, cases he handled in Lagos that they lacked proper documentation.
Sanni who was also the convener of the programme, said that Al Qur’an had stated that when there was a contract, it should be written.
He said that when Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) got the first Mosque land in Medina, he told his disciples that he would pay for the land and write it down.
Sanni said that the sensitisation would continue in all the Muslims divisions in Lagos, to assist them on documentation.
The Chief Judge of Lagos, Mr Kazeem Alogba, who was represented by Chief Registrar, Lagos State Judiciary, Mr Tajudeen Elias, commended the convener for sensitising Lagos clerics to the need to document their land property and Mosque projects.
“It has been unfortunate that have been happening of recent where people are not having proper documentation by not complying with the physical planning directive of Lagos State.
” This sensitisation will further reduce incidents of demolition of illegal lands,”Alogba said.
He advised property owners to get proper documentation and also to comply with Lagos State Law to avoid loss of property.
The former Special Adviser on Communication to the ex-Governor of Lagos, Mr Hakeem Bello, said according to Sanni, that many mosque property being given to communities had been collected by deceased relations due to improper documentation.
Bello said that the programme was to enlighten the Muslim communities on how to document property, to avoid forfeiture.
He said Mr Sanni’s efforts were to enable Lagos Muslim communities to realise the provisions of the Constitution that required citizens to comply with the law.
Bello urged property owners to do proper documentation according to the law to avoid loss in future.
One of the lecturers, Alhaji Olawale Ojikutu of Land Bureau, said that land and property were most significant assets of any individual or group, adding that many societies had introduced individual and collective control over land.
He said that land provided major source of conflicts in urban and rural societies around the world, adding that land created feud among families and neighbours which could be traced back to conflicting claims over inheritance, boundaries and rights.
Ojikutu said that land property was a legal document that served as evidence for ownership of landed properties which also gave the ownership right to control how land would be used.
“Various land ownership structure had existed in Nigeria before and after the independence in 1960.
“The current policy instrument guiding land allocation and ownership was promulgated on the 26th March 1978 as Land Use Act, embedded in the constitution of the country.
” The land use act 1978, it must be said, has not destroyed or fundamentally altered the concept of land ownership in Nigeria that was in existence before its promulgation in 1978,” Ojikutu said.
He mentioned some requirements for Certificate of Occupancy such as duly completed application, survey plan, and application letter addressed to the Executive Secretary, Land Use and Allocation Committee.
A General Practitioner, Muhammed Iskil Lawal, said all Mosques built belonged to Allah, adding that God said in Qur’an that who ever built mosque for Him that He had built house for such person in paradise.
Lawal said that one third of deceased property could be given to relations, communities and wife if the property owner stated in the will before the demise of the owner.
A lawyer, Shakirullah Obale, expressed the need for mosque documentation for proper ownership, adding that he had attended to five mosque matters.
He added that after the demise of the owners, that beneficiaries usually came to claim ownership.
“Most of the Mosques being donated to communities have no proper documentation. Mosque is a landed property in respect of structure being put on it.
“For transfer of property, there must be document, such as Deed of Assignment, and without that, nothing has been given.
“The only benefit that persons may have is if the mosque has taken the possession of the property for 12 years, the issue of limitation law can now come in,” Lawal said.
He said that any Church or Mosque property without any documentation could be forfeited, except they had taken over the possession for over 12 years.(NAN).
NEWS
Ajuri, Tinubu’s Spokesperson Takes Exit, Cites Mesical Reaaona
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Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President Chief Ajuri Ngelale has quit his job. He said in a statement in a Abuja that he would proceed on an ” indefinite leave, to deal with ” medical matters” affecting him amd hia immediate family.Hos statement reads: “On Friday, I submittd a memo to the Chief of Staff to the President informing my office that I am proceeding on an indefinite leave of absence to frontally deal with medical matters presently affecting my immediate, nuclear family.
While I fully appreciate that the ship of state waits for no man, this agonizing decision — entailing a pause of my functions as the Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity and Official Spokesperson of the President; Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action, and Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee on Project Evergreen — was taken after significant consultations with my family over the past several days as a vexatious medical situation has worsened at home.I look forward to returning to full-time national service when time, healing, and fate permit.I respectfully ask for some privacy for my family and family”NEWS
Fuel Crisis: 1000 CSOs Fault Tinubu’s Economic Team, Want Immediate Reconstitution
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By David Torough, Abuja
About 1000 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), under the auspices of Coalition Of Civil Society Organisations (CCSOs), on Saturday Faults President Bola Tinubu’s Economic Team and called for immediate reconstitution.Expressing deep concerns over the state of the economy and escalating fuel prices compounding the hardship of Nigerians despite the recent protest, the groups said Tinubu must act now to avert disintegration.
The groups said the current situation across the country has cast doubt on the competence of the Tinubu economic team and called for urgent review. The CCSOs in a statement by its National Coordinator, Mallam Ibrahim Mohammed, pointed out that the plight of Nigerians is sinking low and their patience is wearing off following the deteriorating economy.The statement reads in part, “The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) is deeply concerned about the deteriorating state of the Nigerian economy, which is becoming increasingly unbearable for millions of citizens.“It is evident that the recent hike in fuel prices and the unstable exchange rate are the direct results of economic mismanagement by those responsible for overseeing our nation’s financial policies. The ripple effects of these failures are being felt in every household across the country, worsening poverty and crippling economic activity.“The floating of the Naira, which was initially sold to Nigerians as a means of stabilizing our currency, has done little to prevent the continued devaluation of the Naira. In fact, the exchange rate disparity has widened significantly, with the Naira losing value daily, impacting the cost of living, basic commodities, and inflation.“While this policy was expected to ease foreign exchange pressure, it has instead deepened economic challenges due to poor implementation and lack of strategic foresight.”The coalition also expressed concern over what it described as a death trap of indebtedness of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which also they claimed had slowed down importation of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, hence the current shortage of PMS across the country. “Of equal concern is the precarious position of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), which finds itself in a debt trap, with global suppliers of petroleum products losing confidence in Nigeria’s ability to honour its obligations.“Reports have shown that NNPCL has accrued debts totalling over $6 billion, causing petrol supply shortages. International suppliers are now reluctant to continue providing fuel on credit, exacerbating supply chain issues and pushing up the price of petrol at the pump”, they claimed.The CSOs also asserted that, “We hold the managers of the Nigerian economy responsible for these disturbing developments. Their inability to provide sound policies and long-term solutions has left the nation in this predicament.“It is clear that there is no cohesive strategy to address the rising debt, the growing imbalance in the foreign exchange market, or the country’s heavy reliance on importation for petrol supply. The recent hike in fuel prices reflects the collapse of responsible economic management and accountability.“Nigerians are left to bear the brunt of these failures. Businesses are shutting down, transportation costs have skyrocketed, and citizens are spending an increasingly larger percentage of their income on basic necessities. This state of affairs is unacceptable.”The group therefore placed some demands; Immediate intervention from the government: There needs to be a comprehensive and transparent plan to stabilize the Naira, restore confidence in the petroleum supply chain, and negotiate a restructuring of NNPC’s debts to ensure continuous fuel supply.“Accountability for economic mismanagement: Those responsible for the reckless management of our foreign exchange policies and NNPC’s debts must be held accountable. The government must also disclose its plan to mitigate the rising fuel costs and economic burden on Nigerians.“A return to sound financial policy: The floating of the Naira has proven ineffective under current conditions. We call for a re-evaluation of monetary and fiscal policies to stabilize the economy, reduce inflation, and attract foreign investment.“In conclusion, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations reiterates that without immediate corrective measures, the economic situation will continue to deteriorate, leading to further hardship for the average Nigerian. The government must act decisively and responsibly to reverse this downward spiral”, they added.NEWS
Tension in Makurdi Community as NAF Personnel Demolishes Houses, Destroys Rice Farm
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There is growing tension in Ugondu community, Makurdi LGA, Benue state by young people opposed to the demolition of houses and destruction of rice farms in the area allegedly on the directives of senior Air Force officer, Air Commodore Akinbuwa Ayodele.
It was learnt that Commodore Ayodele, who is facing multiple legal actions following dispute over a plot of land located on George Akume Way Makurdi and owned in blatant disregard to the judicial process embarked on destruction of structures on the plot.
Eyewitness said when the equipment arrived no one imagined it was for destruction.
But in a militray- like operation, two flats of two units each, completely roofed, electrified and plumbing work completed were among the structures demolished as the bulldozers rolled over rice farms in the vicinity as well.
It was learnt that last year, a Makurdi High Court presided by Justice Mary Ijohor, granted an order of perpetual injunction, in the same matter, upon application by the supposed owner of the plot and awarded the sum of One Million Naira (N1,000,000.00) only, as cost. The matter, enforcement of fundamental rights, was marked as MHC/582/M/2023.
Godwin Akor whose rice farm was destroyed in a chat with newsmen said that he was shocked at the development. He however said he won’t speak more on the matter as it is still before the court.