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THE MYTHS AND REALITY OF THE LAND USE CHARGE

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The recently introduced Land Use Charge in Lagos State has been generating a lot of hues and cries amongst residents of the state due to the over-exaggerated view that it would further significantly aggravate the worries spawned by the current economic depression and make life more brutish and shorter.

Like all new things, there is bound to be the initial furore. Generally, man’s initial response to change is that of resistance but the perception is bound to change if with emerging facts. This is why more concerted efforts are being made to enlighten the public on the features and characteristics of the new law which is being reviewed seventeen years after it was promulgated in 2001.

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Though the current incipient efforts at propagating the essence of the Land Use Charge speaks to the issue in a proactive manner by addressing the Frequently Asked Questions, more robust cross-media response is needed to further educate  skeptical Lagosians by unveiling and unclothing the myths with facts.

According to a maxim “facts are sacred, comments are free”. One of the basic facts is that the Land Use Charge is a consolidation of all property and land based rates and charges payable under Land Rates, Neighbourhood Improvement Charge and Tenement Rate Laws of Lagos State. It derives its legitimacy from the Lags State Land Use Charge Law 2018. It was well thought out as it was comprehensively debated on the floor of the State House of Assembly before it was passed into law. The responsibility for payment of the Land Use Charge resides primarily with the property owner but there is a provision in the law establishing the charge for payment to be made by the occupier who is then empowered to get reimbursement of the payment made from the property owner.

As a boon, assessment of properties for the purpose of Land Use Charge is free and Property Owners are not expected to make any payment whatsoever for the service provided by the Lagos State Government. Owners of empty plots of land will also pay. Anyone who is disatisfied with the assessment can appeal to the Assessment Appeal Tribunal. Furthermore, those who pay within 15 days of the delivery of the Demand Notice will get a discount of 15 per cent.  All property owners are expected to pay their property tax on annual basis but whoever could not afford that can pay monthly. For any two similar properties, the physical appearance, aesthetic features and age will determine the property class rate whether high, medium and low.  The categories of properties include Commercial, Industrial, Educational and Residential.

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Commercial properties attract a rate 0.761 per cent of the assessed Market Value. Industrial and Educational properties are assessed at the rate of 0.255 per cent. Investment property fully occupied by tenants or third party charged at 0.761 per cent. Instalmental payments are not allowed because of the 15 per cent discount which everybody enjoys.

A promotional video on the LUC has been released and it is a veritable strategy to enlighten the populace. Amiable Governor Ambode blazed the trail by being one of the first set of citizens to pay the Land Use Charge on his property. Inspirational comedian, Gbenga  Adeyinka, who has also paid encouraged others to do the same too. An archetypal resident, an elderly man extolled the achievements of the Ambode administration opining that the LUC will augment the funds for greater infrastructural development of the state of aquatic splendor and transformation to a fully fledged mega-city. It is a thing of regret that only a fraction of Lagosians are captured in the tax net. Payment of taxes is a civic responsibility which all and sundry must imbibe to take the state to the next level of governance.

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Politics

Ondo APC Primary: Comrade Aiyitoba Emmanuel Sends Congratulatory Message To Gov. Ayedatiwa

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Ondo APC Primary: Comrade Aiyitoba Emmanuel Sends Congratulatory Message To Gov. Ayedatiwa.

Ondo APC Primary: Comrade Aiyitoba Emmanuel Sends Congratulatory Message To Gov. Ayedatiwa.

 

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The Executive Administrator of Ilaje Progressive Summit Group( IPSG), Comrade Aiyitoba Emmanuel has sent a congratulatory message to Gov. Ayedatiwa over his victory on the APC’s primary election in Ondo state last week Saturday.

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Ondo APC Primary: Comrade Aiyitoba Emmanuel Sends Congratulatory Message To Gov. Ayedatiwa.

 

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Gov. Lucky Ayedatiwa won the highest number of votes of 48, 569 among the aspirants, and therefore declared the winner by the Governorship Primary Election Committee.

Aiyitoba in his statement said, his group will work and campaign tirelessly for his Excellency, Gov. Ayedatiwa to win in the 16th November, 2024 Governorship election in Ondo State. ” I’m from the same village, Obe-nla kingdom with Gov. Ayedatiwa; he’s our son, uncle, brother and father and we believe he’s capable of bringing development in all ramifications to Ondo State”.

As the IPSG co-ordinator, Comrade Aiyitoba assured that his group will work hands- in- hands and campaign door to door to assure his Excellency’s Victory at Ilaje area and Ondo state as a whole for the November governorship election in the State.

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PUBLIC NOTICE: URGENT APPEAL FOR PEACE AND SECURITY IN RIVERS STATE: A CALL TO ACTION FOR THE PRESIDENT*

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**PUBLIC NOTICE: URGENT APPEAL FOR PEACE AND SECURITY IN RIVERS STATE: A CALL TO ACTION FOR THE PRESIDENT**

Dear Esteemed Citizens of Nigeria,

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As concerned citizens and representatives of the Dwellers of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Africa (DCWCA), our hearts weigh heavy with concern for the safety and security of our beloved nation, particularly in Rivers State. Recent developments have seen allover the internet news online a troubling plot that threatens to undermine the peace and stability painstakingly built by our coastal communities.

We are gravely disturbed by reports indicating a sinister scheme aimed at disrupting the commendable efforts of Royal Fouchee Security Limited, spearheaded by the esteemed Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo Asari. It pains us deeply to learn that the very guardians of our security, the Nigeria Security Agencies, are allegedly orchestrating an assault on the dedicated workers of Royal Fouchee Security Agency and other private security entities in Rivers State.

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In this hour of uncertainty, we turn our eyes to the highest office of the land, the esteemed President of Nigeria, with an impassioned plea for intervention. Mr. President, we beseech you to heed our call and use your authority to halt any actions that may endanger the lives and well-being of our coastal citizens. Your decisive action is imperative in preventing further escalation of tensions and preserving the peace that is the lifeblood of our coastal communities.

While we cannot definitively prove the political undertones behind these alarming developments, the whispers of suspicion linger in the air. It is incumbent upon our leaders to rise above partisan interests and prioritize the safety and security of every Nigerian, particularly those in our coastal regions who are vulnerable to various challenges.

Let us not forget the lessons of our past, where political differences were allowed to sow seeds of discord and division among our coastal brethren. Instead, let us unite in solidarity, transcending political boundaries to safeguard the sanctity of our democracy and the welfare of our coastal people.

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Mr. President, we implore you to intervene swiftly and decisively, sending a clear message that the security and well-being of every coastal Nigerian is non-negotiable. Your actions today will shape the destiny of our nation and reaffirm our collective commitment to peace, unity, and progress.

With unwavering hope and trust in your leadership,

Dwellers of Coastal and Waterways Communities of Africa (DCWCA)
[Tom Inko-Tariah ACI arb
President/CEO]

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Edi Abali Group Raises Alarm Over Security Threat to Ancestral Home, Assets of Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari

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Edi Abali Group Raises Alarm Over Security Threat to Ancestral Home, Assets of Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari

Edi Abali Group Raises Alarm Over Security Threat to Ancestral Home, Assets of Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari

 

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by The Army

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Sahara Weekly Reports That The Edi Abali Group has raised an alarm concerning a security threat to the ancestral home and assets of Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, the Paramount Ruler of Edi Abali Group of War Canoe and Chieftaincy Houses in the Kalabari Kingdom of Rivers State, by the military.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edi Abali Group Raises Alarm Over Security Threat to Ancestral Home, Assets of Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari

 

 

 

 

 

In a public notice issued by the Edi Abali Group it states that credible intelligence has revealed plans by elements within the 103 Battalion of the Nigerian Army in Obuama to provoke a confrontation and disrupt the peace in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the notice, the plot specifically targets Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, who is currently out of the country. The army allegedly plans to exploit his absence in order to create a crisis that could be wrongly attribited to the community members, resulting in attacks on innocent individuals. The Edi Abali Group clarifies that there are no issues between their community, the army, and Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari or his company, Royal Fouche Services Limited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The notice highlights that the tensions arose after Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari spoke out about the involvement of some elements of the Nigerian Army in oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta. These activities reportedly deprived the government of the much-needed revenue, leading to displeasure among these elements. The group believes that they are deliberately instigating a crisis involving the personnel of Royal Fouche Services to justify an attack on innocent indigenes of the Kalabari communities, particularly in Obuama where Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari is based, as well as the 103 Battalion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mr Mpakaboari Pankin Braide said,

 

 

“The army in Obuama is aware of his absence from the country and plans to exploit this to create a crisis, which will be wrongly attributed to community members, leading to attacks on innocent individuals.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Edi Abali Group calls upon the Nigerian Army to be aware of this plot and to ensure that they are not manipulated into compromising peace and security in the area. They also highlight the proven record of collaboration between Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari and Royal Fouche Services Limited with security agencies in combating terrorism, kidnapping, and insurgency.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The group aims to inform the public, as well as the people of Kalabari and Rivers State, about this planned provocation targeting innocent individuals, including Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari. They emphasize his commitment to supporting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government and Governor Sim Fubara-led Rivers State Governments in ensuring the safety and security of all Nigerians.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Said Mr Mpakaboari Pankin Braide

Secretary Edi Abali Group Of War Canoe and Chieftaincy Houses,

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We want the public, people of Kalabari and Rivers State to be aware of this planned provocation targeting innocent individuals, including Alhaji Mujahid Abubakr Dokubo-Asari, who remains committed to supporting the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government and Governor Sim Fubara-led Rivers State Governments in ensuring safety and security for all Nigerians.”

 

 

 

 

 

Released and signed by;

Mr Mpakaboari Pankin Braide

Secretary Edi Abali Group Of War Canoe and Chieftaincy Houses

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