News
Umahi rules out compensation for bare land owners
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has reiterated that the Federal Government does not compensate for bare lands, adding that all lands belong to the government.
He disclosed this at the inspection of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Section 1 at kilometre 18, Okun Ajah axis, recently.
He said, “Go and read the law; there is no compensation for bare land. All land belongs to the government. Hence, if you are taking what belongs to you, you do not pay compensation; it is the president that directed that anywhere we see a shanty on our corridor, we should pay compensation; it is a kind of human meekness from the president towards the people. We broke no law.
“So, where there is no infrastructure on land, they have to write to Mr. President for a direction on that.”
In an interview with The Punch, the General Secretary, Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Lagos Chapter, Folusho Ogunrinde, said land was undeniably an asset whether owned by individuals, businesses, or the government.
He said, “Governments recognise the value of land as an asset and manage it as such. For instance, you cannot encroach on government-owned land for development because it is considered part of their assets.
Similarly, individuals and private entities acquire land either through inheritance, purchase, or investment. When such land is taken away, the argument that compensation should only be for developments and not the land itself is fundamentally flawed. It disregards the asset’s intrinsic value and how it was acquired.
“The 99-year lease system in Nigeria further underscores the value of land as an asset, as this lease is renewable. If governments require compensation for the renewal of a lease or when public use necessitates land acquisition, individuals and private owners deserve similar recognition and compensation for their land when expropriated.
“The law, as it stands, needs urgent redress. The idea that landowners should not be compensated for their land is, frankly, unjust and tantamount to fraud. Land is more than a physical space; it is an economic and generational asset. To deny compensation for it is to undermine the principles of equity and justice. Hence, there is a need for a review of the Land Use Act and constitutional provisions to align with the realities of land as a critical and valuable asset.”
In a similar vein, the Team Lead, Arbitration, Maritime, and Real Estate Practice Group, Stren & Blan Partners, Joseph Siyaidon, posited that non-payment of compensation on bare land was unconstitutional.
He said, “The Land Use Act is merely an existing Act and not part of the Constitution. We humbly submit that the provisions of the Land Use Act, which limit the payment of compensation for private properties compulsorily acquired by the government to only unexhausted improvements on the land, are unconstitutional in that they violate the provisions of Sections 43 & 44 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), which extends the right of compensation to all immovable properties, bare lands included.”
Umahi disclosed that the first phase of the coastal highway will be completed by May 29, 2025.
He said, “By May 29 we are facing the commissioning, and we have directed all the comptrollers of works that, by the end of April, every comptroller of works in all the states must give us a minimum of three projects that Mr. President is going to commission.
“From Channel 0, we are going to be commissioning the first 20 kilometres; however, another 10 kilometres would be ready at the end of the project within this period, but we are not commissioning that one, it is going to be phase 2 of section 1 for commissioning. Generally, across the country, we are going to be commissioning projects in phases.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Director of Road Design, Engr. Musa Saidi, assured that the highway construction adheres to approved specifications and includes additional measures for durability. Any realignment is for public interest, safety, and economic reasons,” he said.
A member of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) task force yesterday was shot dead during a confrontation, while trying to seize a moving vehicle ọf an unidentified security personnel in Wuse 2 Area ọf Abuja
The incident, which caused tension in the Wuse 2 district, occurred around Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent.
It was gathered that the victim died on the spot after being shot during the altercation.
Eyewitnesses said the deceased operative was among task force officials attempting to impound a vehicle when an argument broke out with occupants of the car.
During the altercation, a security operative allegedly fired warning shots before shooting one of the task force members at close range.
A witness explained that the dispute began after the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, with the driver insisting that an object placed under the car be removed so he could move.
According to the source, “There were three of them at the traffic light where the car stopped. The officer kept saying, ‘Remove the object you placed under my car. My tyre is stuck.’ But they ignored him.
“When the traffic light changed, everyone moved on, but the man could not move because they prevented him. He again told them, ‘Remove the object from my car and let me go.’ But they insisted that he must either provide his papers or pay.
“The officer then fired a warning shot into the air to scare them, but they continued shouting, saying they were not afraid and that he was lying. The security personnel then stepped back and shot one of them directly in the forehead. He fell down and died instantly.
“The next thing I saw was that all of them started running away. But this young man lost his life for nothing. If they had listened when the officer asked them to remove the object from the car, he would still be alive.
“The man in the car was moving in a convoy with some security personnel and foreign nationals. A foreigner was inside the vehicle when the task force operative stopped it.”
Residents and passersby who gathered at the scene expressed concern over the growing tension caused by enforcement activities in parts of the capital.
The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unclear, and authorities are yet to issue an official statement as of the time of filing this report.
The Nigerian military yesterday inaugurated a general court-martial to try officers accused in an alleged coup plot, marking the formal commencement of proceedings.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused officers were brought to the venue of the sitting, the Guards Brigade Scorpion Mess, Asokoro, at about 8:53 a.m. under tight security.
Journalists were, however, denied access into the courtroom as proceedings commenced behind closed doors.
Several civil lawyers were observed arriving at the venue ahead of the inauguration, suggesting the presence of legal representatives for the accused.
The sitting signals the beginning of the military’s internal trial process following months of investigation into the alleged plot.
The case dates back to October 2025, when about 16 serving military personnel, comprising senior and junior officers, were arrested over alleged acts of indiscipline.
Subsequent investigations by military authorities, however, established that some of the officers had cases to answer bordering on an alleged attempt to overthrow the constitutional government, leading to the decision to subject them to court-martial.
NAN reports that more than 30 accused officers were brought in a luxurious “Marcopolo” bus.
In a related development, the federal government had earlier arraigned several civilian suspects and retired military personnel before a Federal High Court in Abuja over the same alleged coup plot.
The defendants, including a retired major general and a serving police officer, were charged with offences bordering on treason and terrorism.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The court subsequently ordered their remand in custody pending the hearing of their bail applications.
The parallel proceedings underscore the dual-track approach, with serving military personnel facing court-martial, while civilians and retired officers are being tried in civilian courts.
Further details of the court-martial proceedings were not immediately available as at the time of filing this report. (NAN)
News
Protesters Storm Streets In Kwara South, Lament Terrorists Takeover Of Yoruba Communities, Demand Action From Tinubu Govt
Residents of Kwara South under the aegis of the Kwara South Development Forum have staged a protest over what they described as incessant insecurity ravaging their communities, calling on President Bola Tinubu and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to act swiftly before the situation spirals further out of control.
The protesters accused armed groups, which they repeatedly described as terrorists, of taking over indigenous Yoruba communities in Kwara South, unleashing a wave of killings, kidnappings, and mass displacement of residents.
They warned that entire communities had been overrun, while local vigilante structures have been systematically dismantled.
Speaking during the protest, the Convener of the forum, Obashola Ayomide Ridwan, painted a grim picture of the security situation, alleging that informants have been aiding the attackers in targeting local defense leaders.
“Our local vigilante commanders were identified by informants, and the terrorists went after each of them and killed them one by one. After eliminating these commanders, they took over our communities, killing and kidnapping innocent people,” he said.
He added that the consequences had been devastating across the region, with families torn apart and social structures collapsing.
“Our mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers have been killed and kidnapped, while our schools have been shut down in Kwara South. We are demonstrating today to express our concerns to President Tinubu and Governor AbdulRazaq to empower the local vigilantes and other security agencies to end the kidnapping and killings in Kwara South,” Ridwan stated.
The group also urged traditional rulers across Kwara South to rise above divisions and collectively engage the presidency, stressing that urgent high-level intervention is needed to halt what they described as a “creeping occupation” of their land.
During the protest, emotions ran high as victims and residents shared personal accounts of loss and displacement.
A female protester, Adebisi Jimoh, recounted how her community, Babanla, has effectively been abandoned due to persistent attacks.
“Our community has become deserted. Our family members have been kidnapped, and we had to raise ransom to secure their release. Many of us have been chased out of our homes,” she said.
Another protester, Sodiq Amidu, who spoke through tears, narrated how two of his close associates were abducted and only released after paying heavy ransom.
He identified the victims as Abdullah Issa, who paid N10million, and Yusuf Ibrahim, who paid N5million before regaining freedom.
“They were lucky to come back alive. Many others are not that fortunate,” Amidu lamented.
Also speaking, a prominent activist in the region, Aleshinloye Saheed, alleged that the attackers were able to consolidate control after eliminating local resistance.
“Our brave vigilante commanders have been killed, and our people have become vulnerable. Communities in Kwara South have been deserted as a result,” he said.
He called for what he described as “concerted action” from both federal and state authorities.
“We are calling on President Bola Tinubu and Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to take decisive and coordinated action over the incessant insecurity in Kwara South,” Saheed added.
Another protester, identified as Ishola Kwara, appealed directly to traditional rulers and the state government, expressing deep frustration over what he described as a lack of adequate response.
The protesters maintained that without urgent intervention — including the empowerment and restructuring of local vigilante groups and stronger security presence — Kwara South risks further descent into lawlessness.
They vowed to continue peaceful demonstrations until concrete steps are taken to restore security, rebuild trust, and enable displaced residents to return to their ancestral homes.
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