As the institution with the highest moral authority, reach, and history of human liberation, the Catholic Church must save Nigerians from the social sin of using the ballot to renew Nigeria’s neocolonial system of armed robbery, by guiding them to redefine their national purpose and means before the 2027 elections. For unless they are being trafficked, a free people must choose their destination before choosing the drivers to take them there. The pilgrimage from Ibadan to the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Abuja, is a call to move from condemning the effects and players of our intrinsically unjust system to dismantling the root cause of the system’s injustice, cruelty, and criminality.
Nigeria’s socio-political system was built on colonial land-expropriation decrees from 1885-1970, which are now reinforced by the Land Use Act, enacted by military decree in 1978. This is the law that denies our people’s private land ownership and reduces them to unofficial squatters and official tenants that cannot own, protect, or use their lands to get capital and partnerships for their socio-industrial growth. So, voting without abolishing this law is material cooperation with the intrinsically unjust law (structure of sin) and neocolonial instrument of perpetual servitude. The elections are just rotational tussles for caretakers and decorators of a system built on an evil that violates natural law, human dignity and the warning of Evangelium Vitae 73. Without its abolition, any Youth or Nigerian below 55 campaigning or voting for this system of intrinsically unjust law is signing the death warrant for the socio-industrial destiny of his children and lineage, despite the candidate they choose, or any feudally divisive and illegitimate regional restructuring for localized tyranny.
The best way to break the cycle of poverty, violent crime, corruption and socio-industrial bondage from this colonial rental system is to replace its foundation, the Land Use Act, with a Private Property Charter. This is to recognize private property right as the natural right for individuals, families and communities to own and use their cultural, human and natural resources to prosper and manifest their excellence to their communities, nation and the world. So, Nigerian individuals, families and communities must win their natural right to own and use their lands and resources to prosper, BEFORE the politicians (whether Christian or Muslim, North or South), can win the power to serve the people by regulating their socio-political and economic relations.
Private property right is at the root of all other personal rights, human dignity, socioeconomic liberty, the rule of law, and harmonious growth. Without it, the judiciary and lawyers are just puppets of the executive and political elites, not prosecutors and monitors of government power, or defenders of people’s rights. Without it, the religious, academic and media criticisms become adverts for political power; the armed forces remain bullies-in-waiting; most government jobs and empowerment programs stay tokenism of corporate welfare, public infrastructures remain supportive decoration of underdevelopment, regional restructuring becomes a rearrangement of bondage, while further elections become recycling of dictatorship. And based on Rerum Novarum 15-16, without enlightening, transforming, inspiring and rallying the people (Nigerians) to replace this intrinsically unjust neocolonial law with a natural law of liberty, as the beacon of moral authority, pathfinder and guardian of human liberty and dignity, the Catholic Church in Nigeria (even Africa) risks being reduced to a Museum and NGO in neocolonialism.
Do not Hate the Players! Change the Game!! – So that a New Nigeria (and Africa) can Arise!!!
Below is a draft of the Private Property Charter that must replace the neocolonial land-expropriation law BEFORE 2027 elections, in order to liberate and transform Nigerians into a Stronghold for Africa and Beacon of Humanity:
Nigerian Private Freehold Land and Resource Ownership Charter
Draft for the Restart National Conference after sensitization for Private Property Rights through the Tour of Liberty
Preamble
We, the peoples and communities of Nigeria, do solemnly affirm the spirit of intercultural liberty – the belief that there is something great in every community and culture, and so, they all have the natural and inalienable right to own, modify, and use their cultural, human, and natural resources to prosper and manifest their socio-industrial greatness to their community, nation, and the world. Government, religion, academia, and mass media only exist to support communities and their members, not to dominate, exploit, or erase them. This Charter is to abolish the Land Use Act, end government monopoly over land and minerals, establish a system of private freehold ownership registered at state level, fully bankable, and enforceable in courts, and recognize the right of property owners to defend their person, home, and registered property.
Article 1 – Repeal and Recognition of Freehold Title
1.1. The Land Use Act, enacted by military decree, is hereby repealed.
1.2. All lawful “rights of occupancy” shall convert to private freehold upon registration in the State Land Registry within 5 years.
1.3. Land ownership by Nigerian individuals, families, communities, and companies is equal before the law. No title is subordinate to the state.
Article 2 – Subsurface Ownership and Revenue
2.1. Onshore minerals vest in the host community, to be managed through a registered Community Resource Trust or Corporation, subject to national security, environmental, and safety laws.
2.2. Subject to Conference ratification, 30% of net onshore mineral revenue shall remain with the producing community Trust, 50% shall accrue to the State/Region where the resource is located, and 20% shall go to the Federal Government for national equalization, defense, and interstate infrastructure.
2.3. For this Article, “net mineral revenue” means gross revenue from the sale of minerals, minus royalties, company income tax, and audited operating costs as defined by NUPRC regulations.
2.4. Offshore mineral resources vest in the federal government due to national security and maritime jurisdiction. Yet, subject to maritime safety and international law, 10% of net offshore mineral revenue shall accrue to coastal communities where extraction occurs, to be managed through the Community Trust. 70% shall go to Federal Government, and 20% to State/Region of extraction.
Article 3 – Review and Return of Exploited Onshore Lands
3.1. All onshore lands currently exploited by government or its delegates are subject to review.
3.2. Subject to ratification, rights acquired by force shall return to the host community within 10 years. For lawfully acquired rights, communities shall have a first right of refusal on renewal, with compensation for lawful investments.
3.3. Operations shall continue during the 10-year period to prevent abrupt stoppage and job losses, subject to Article 8 environmental and safety standards.
3.4. An Independent Land Restitution Board shall be established within 6 months. It shall publish quarterly reports, and its leadership shall be replaced for failure to publish.
Article 4 – Rights of the Owner and Transparency
4.1. Owners may use, lease, sell, mortgage, bequeath, and enter joint ventures without prior government approval, subject to registration and post-development compliance with environmental and safety laws.
4.2. Interests in land are transferable and mortgageable. Registration establishes priority against subsequent buyers and creditors.
Article 5 – Public Use and Eminent Domain
5.1. The government shall not take land from owners except for direct public use, defined as infrastructure, utilities, and defense projects open to the public, as determined by a court after hearing from government and land owners.
5.2. Just compensation shall be current market value plus not less than a 25%, paid in cash before possession. Courts have final authority.
5.3. Debt taken by government cannot be repaid with people’s lands or resources. No contract signed without title is valid.
Article 6 – Governance, Registration, and Limits of Power
6.1. Each state shall maintain a public, digitized, real-time Land Registry open to land-owners, banks, and courts for titles, leases, mortgages, and transfers. States shall accredit community surveyors and enable bulk registration through communities, to avoid wasting time and cost.
6.2. Local governments may regulate zoning, building codes, environmental permits, and property tax, but shall not grant, revoke, or override ownership.
6.3. States regulate health, safety, and environmental standards. The federal government regulates interstate commerce, defense, and national standards.
Article 7 – Dispute Resolution and Contracts
7.1. Parties may first use community mediation applying customary law.
7.2. Unresolved disputes shall be adjudicated by state High Courts, with appeal to the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
7.3. Private contracts for lease, sale, and development are enforceable as property contracts.
Article 8 – Environmental and Safety Standards
8.1. All extraction and development must comply with national EIA laws and state environmental regulations.
8.2. Operators are liable for damage and must post a performance bond for site rehabilitation, released after independent audit.
Article 9 – Cultural Destiny Contest and Purpose of Private Property
9.1. Purpose: Land and resources held under this Charter shall be used to build wealth, industry, technology, agriculture, and culture for Nigerian communities, the nation, and the world, and not just to sell off to foreigners.
9.2. A quadriennial contest shall run at local government, state, and national levels every 4 years, preferably a year before elections. Awards prioritize projects that are Nigerian-owned or majority-controlled, create jobs and technology transfer, manage the environment responsibly, and advance Nigerian culture. Also, awards prioritize projects from communities that have completed 80% registration of communal land within 5 years. States with less than 50% registration are not eligible for national prize.
9.3. Foreign partnership is permitted, but projects that are pure vehicles for foreign ownership and profit repatriation without local value addition do not qualify for recognition or incentives.
9.4. A board of Cultural Destiny Institute shall be inaugurated at the Restart National Conference to direct the events and contests for the continued manifestation of socio-industrial excellence of the communities, local governments and states.
9.5. The contest is to unite and inspire excellence in every community’s socio-industrial education, mentorship, and periodic cultural festivities and exhibitions. After the successful maiden edition, it may extend to incorporate other African countries in order to manifest African unity, identity, and prosperity.
Article 10 – Transition, Distribution, and Binding Effect
10.1. The Charter takes effect upon Conference adoption and presidential assent. Constitutional amendments to Sections 44(3) and 315(5) shall be transmitted to state Houses of Assembly within 30 days. If state Houses of Assembly fail to transmit approval within 6 months of conference adoption, this Charter becomes law by referendum of the communities in each state. 50% +1 votes of registered owners in a state shall carry the state.
10.2. Communities have 5 years to identify, distribute, and register individual and family holdings from communal land. States shall waive fees for first-time registrations arising from this process.
10.3. During the 5-year transition, existing rights under the repealed Act remain valid and registrable. No lawfully acquired rights shall be confiscated without compensation.
10.4. The Charter shall be signed by the President-elect at inauguration as the major step of our departure from the colonial rental system. Failure to sign within 30 days of inauguration shall cause the Chief Justice of Nigeria to publish this Charter in the Federal Gazette, whereupon it shall have the force of law, and no court shall grant any injunction to delay its operation.
Article 11 – Defense of Person, Home, and Property
11.1. The right of every Nigerian to defend their life, family, home, and registered property is inherent and shall not be denied.
11.2. Every registered property owner has the right to possess and use lawful means of defense. This right shall be exercised with licensing, training, and background checks as provided by law. Communities may also form licensed Community Defense Units registered with the State Police Command and State Land Registry.
11.3. This right shall be exercised in accordance with Section 33(2) of the Constitution. The State may regulate the type of arms, training, and safe storage, but shall not prohibit possession for lawful defense. Prohibited military-grade weapons remain illegal.
Don’t mess with Nigerians!!!
We are now calling on the Catholic Bishops of Nigeria: To declare the Land Use Act an intrinsically unjust law; to lead the drive for Private Property before further general elections; and to refuse blessing campaigns to this system of intrinsically unjust law.
JOIN THE PILGRIMAGE, by signing the petition for the Restart National Conference for the Private Property Charter, here:
To support or collaborate, contact through WhatsApp: 08089104449, or Email: restartnaija@gmail.com
