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First Lady: Islamic cleric should be detained, banned from preaching, YOWICAN urges security agencies

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The Christian Association of Nigeria Youth Wing) on Friday called on security agencies to effect the immediate arrest of a Muslim Cleric, Idris Abdulaziz Dusen Tenshi, who demanded the killing of the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and also described her as an infidel.

While demanding public prosecution of the Cleric, YOWICAN requested that the said preacher should be restricted from preaching in Nigeria to serve as a deterrent to others.

The President of YOWICAN, Belusochukwu Enwere, said these during a press conference delivered at the end of its 2024 National Prayer Day/First Quarter National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja.

He also raised fears over the plan by a Fulani militia to establish a vigilante in Nasarawa State, warning that it is dangerous for the country.

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The cleric had in a viral video criticized the Muslim/Muslim ticket that secured the election victory of President Bola Tinubu as fraudulent, demanding that the First Lady should be condemned to death for her affiliation with the church.

He controversially stated that Oluremi Tinubu should be condemned to death for her role as a pastor and executed according to Quranic law, although he failed to cite relevant Quranic passages.

The cleric could be heard speaking in the Hausa language, saying, “Now, Tinubu, his wife, is an infidel (Christian). As an infidel, she is a leader among the infidels. God’s judgement says she must be killed. She’s a pastor… a leader of infidels (Christians); Allah says they must be killed…”

But YOWICAN in its communique said security agencies should arrest him immediately.

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The communique said, “The NEC is calling for the immediate arrest of the Muslim Cleric (Idris Abdulaziz Dusen Tenshi) who has called for the killing of the wife of the President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu for being a Christian and describing her as an infidel. The NEC is calling for the public prosecution of the cleric and wishes to request that the said preacher should be restricted from preaching in Nigeria to serve as deterrent to others.

“The NEC is telling the Federal Government and security agencies to act immediately on the matter to avoid further deterioration of the security situation in the country because of the unguarded statement and utterance.”

YOWICAN also acknowledged the hardship in the country which, it said, is occasioned by the constantly rising cost of living that has resulted in an unprecedented level of hunger and suffering among the citizenry.

The YOWICAN NEC therefore called on government at all levels to intensify efforts at ameliorating the plights of the citizens in the country.

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Enwere said, “The NEC also totally condemn, in its entirety, the deteriorating state of security in our country which has manifested in the wanton killings across the country, especially the massacre of our Christian brethren in Mangu, Barkin Ladi, Bassa and Bokkos Local Government Areas of Plateau State and other parts of the country. We call on all stakeholders in the security of this country to expedite action on arresting the perpetrators of the evil act.

“The NEC has also decried the rising level of unemployment about our members in the which forms part of the youth constituency in the country and calls on government to make deliberate policy to address the situation.

“Having stated above, NEC calls on the government to ensure that youths are part of the process of national development. The NEC calls on all Christian youths in the country to be committed in their associations at their various zones and states.”

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Nigerian Govt promises support for stampede victims’ families

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Vice-President Kashim Shettima has said the Federal Government will support families of victims of recent stampedes across the country.

Shettima made this known in a condolence message on Sunday in Abuja.

He expressed sorrow over the losses and offered prayers and condolences to the affected families.

Recall that on Saturday in Okija, Anambra, a Christmas palliative distribution event turned tragic with 22 persons losing their lives in an early morning stampede.

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The same day in Abuja, another tragedy struck when ten persons died during an annual Christmas food-sharing event at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Maitama.

There was also a stampede on Wednesday at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Oyo State, where about 35 children lost their lives and others sustained injuries during a holiday fun fair.

The vice-president, who described the incidents as a national tragedy, revealed that the Federal Government had directed relevant agencies to provide immediate support to affected families.

“I am extremely saddened by these tragic incidents that have claimed innocent lives.

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“My prayers and thoughts are with the grieving families of all victims, including those who sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment.

“I am particularly distraught by the fact that so many lives of Nigerians, particularly children, have been lost in stampedes that ought to have been avoided through proper planning and organisation,” he said.

He prayed the Almighty God to grant eternal rest to the souls of the departed.

“We stand ready to support the bereaved families through this difficult period, and no effort will be spared in providing the necessary assistance they need.”

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Umahi rules out compensation for bare land owners

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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.”

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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.

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“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.

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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.

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Telcos demand plan to resolve N250bn USSD debt

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The Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria has called on industry regulators to implement clear and practical solutions to resolve the long-standing N250bn debt owed by banks to telecom operators for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data offerings.

Speaking with The PUNCH, ATCON President Tony Emoekpere stressed the need for clear solutions, warning that the debt crisis threatens the progress of financial inclusion in the country.

In Nigeria, USSD is vital for financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas where smartphone penetration and internet access are limited.

It is heavily relied upon by banks, especially for mobile banking services, and is also used for services like airtime top-ups, bill payments, and other telecom services.

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“My advice is that it is crucial for this debt to be addressed directly and for a solution to be found. If telcos are not encouraged to support the financial industry and such debts continue to accumulate, it will be detrimental to financial inclusion targets,” he said.

Emoekpere also highlighted the importance of prioritizing USSD traffic and creating incentives for telecom operators to continue supporting the financial sector.

He urged industry regulators, including the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Central Bank of Nigeria, to establish a framework that ensures the timely and equitable resolution of such disputes.

The debt crisis has persisted for years, with telecom operators threatening to suspend USSD services unless payments are made.

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While smaller banks have reportedly begun repaying their obligations in installments, tier-one lenders—responsible for the bulk of the debt—are yet to make significant payments, according to the Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecom Operators of Nigeria, Gbenga Adebayo.

“Some repayments have been recorded, but they fall short of expectations,” Adebayo told The PUNCH in November.

Telecom operators have long argued that the unpaid debts undermine their ability to maintain USSD services, which are critical for financial transactions in Nigeria.

The operators have repeatedly called for the intervention of regulators to facilitate a lasting resolution.

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Industry stakeholders warn that failure to resolve the debt crisis could jeopardize efforts to expand financial inclusion, particularly in rural areas where USSD services play a pivotal role.

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