Indications have Emerged the Nigerian government may impose heavy Economic sanctions on the United kingdom in the wake of the UKs Government reported decision to grant Asylum to IPOB members.

A top official from the Federal ministry of foreign Affairs disclosed that Nigeria will impose heavy sanctions on the UK, and place restrictions on UK citizens seeking greener pastures in the Oil Rich Nigeria. It is a known fact that Nigeria is UKs largest Economic and trade partner,and Nigeria in recent years have rescued UK from so many crisis. Nigeria will Ban Immigrants from UK, withdraw it's military support for the European Country and stop selling oil to it.

" How can the UK grant Asylum to proscribed Terrorists?, is the UK daring Nigeria, we have sent a strong letter of dissatisfaction to No 10 downing street and the Westminster." ,The official was quoted as saying.

It was also disclosed Nigeria will henceforth Barr the UK Prime minister from coming to Abuja for medical Check ups and withdraw it's financial support to Buckingham palace.

Approval of Hijab: A Tactless and dangerous move.

A Christian Human rights group, Nigerian Christian Youth frontiers, (NCYF),have waded into the Hijab imbroglio, currently rocking Kwara state.calling for caution and restraint on the part of the State government in it's tactless approach to this sensitive issue.

It will be recalled that the State government in a rather Bizzare move recently approved the Use of Hijab,in Christian Mission schools throughout the state
.
The group in a meeting held in It's headquarters on Saturday the 6th of March 2021, urged the state government to suspend it's purpoted approval of the use of Hijab in Christian Mission schools and adopt other modern, Holistic approach to putting an end to the controversy. The group warned that Christians will not be cowed into Submission neither will it allow it's heritage supplanted by Acrobatic religious Fanatism.

" Unarguably,the proprietors of this schools had an intention for Setting up these citadel's of learning,which is to promote both Christian and Academic virtues,in Character and learning, with well documented policy statements based on core and strict Christian principles.

It beats our imagination that the State government under the leadership of Governor Abdulrasak will throw all caution to the wind and succumb to Blackmail by those who don't mean well for the state. The group demands a reverse to the status quo with urgent alacrity in order to avoid an impending crisis.

The state government should as a matter of urgency convene a Meeting of all Stakeholders, including the Proprietors of thess Grant Aided Christian Mission schools in order to amicably resolve this standoff that has a potential to escalate tensions if not carefully handled".

Isaac Adebayo
Director,(NCYF)

Approval of Hijab: A Tactless and dangerous move.

A Christian Human rights group, Nigerian Christian Youth frontiers, (NCYF),have waded into the Hijab imbroglio, currently rocking Kwara state.calling for caution and restraint on the part of the State government in it's tactless approach to this sensitive issue.

It will be recalled that the State government in a rather Bizzare move recently approved the Use of Hijab,in Christian Mission schools throughout the state.

The group in a meeting held in It's headquarters on Saturday the 6th of March 2021, urged the state government to suspend it's purpoted approval of the use of Hijab in Christian Mission schools and adopt other modern, Holistic approach to putting an end to the controversy. The group warned that Christians will not be cowed into Submission neither will it allow it's heritage supplanted by Acrobatic religious Fanatism.

" Unarguably,the proprietors of this schools had an intention for Setting up these citadel's of learning,which is to promote both Christian and Academic virtues,in Character and learning, with well documented policy statements based on core and strict Christian principles. It beats our imagination that the State government under the leadership of Governor Abdulrasak will throw all caution to the wind and succumb to Blackmail by those who don't mean well for the state. The group demands a reverse to the status quo with urgent alacrity in order to avoid an impending crisis. The state government should as a matter of urgency convene a Meeting of all Stakeholders, including the Proprietors of thess Grant Aided Christian Mission schools in order to amicably resolve this standoff that has a potential to escalate tensions if not carefully handled".

Isaac Adebayo
Director

"Every effort made to advise the rulership is seen as a challenge to Authority or disloyalty, thus the theme was set for the systematic elimination of what was termed opposition. Every energy of the rulership was directed at this imaginary opposition rather than to effective leadership." The speech of Buharis Overthrow by Brigadier Joshua N Dogonyaro. August 27 1985.

NEW YEAR MESSAGE OF THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR ABDUL-RASHEED NA'ALLAH


My dear University Community,

I like to wish you all a Happy and Prosperous 2021! I must thank you all for your great efforts in ensuring that despite all difficulties, we ended 2020 well and became much stronger as a University.

2020 saw us all confronted with the coronavirus pandemic. Some of our staff and students died, many of us lost loved ones to death in natural, sickness and accident circumstances, and towards the end of December 2020, we also lost our Pioneer Vice Chancellor, Professor Isa Baba Mohammed, may God forgive him his sins and bless him with al-jannat.

Yet, 2020 saw many remarkable successes for our University to which we must thank God. In the same 2020, University of Abuja academic staff received external research grants to the tune of about N704 million. Also in 2020, our University received an infrastructure grant from Tetfund of N5 Billion to construct a new Senate Building, an International Conference Centre and road and landscaping and part of our fencing. The UofA also now has Abuja Leadership Centre which is a Tetfund Centre of Excellence in Public Governance and Leadership, with an initial N1 Billion grant.

Also in the same 2020, the Federal Government of Nigeria released N1 Billion to the University of Abuja for fencing of our campus, and the Federal Executive Council in its most recent meeting approved the fencing contract for the University of Abuja for that amount. These are only very few of those great stories that our University brought forward to 2021 from 2020!

The University of Abuja is also the first Federal University in 2020 to develop a Virtual Classroom system, and through a pilot program, has been teaching classes since April/May 2020 to close to 5, 000 students on it. My dear great UofA, it is incumbent on our University NOT to lose this advantage of being the first in this endeavor. The truth is that the UofA of Nigeria is fully ready to help and assist any Nigerian university that needs our guidance in developing their own virtual classroom system!

I appeal to ALL academic staff without exception to migrate to the Virtual Classroom system without delay! Be the first to do it, don't wait for another person! It is easy, it is simple, and the ITMS will assist every lecturer that needs help. Do not wait for ITMS to come to you or call you, go to them to ask for help to migrate!

Already, ITMS has announced a series of workshops to take academic staff through the use of UniAbuja Virtual Classroom. Video clips would also be circulated by ITMS, which will demonstrate to academic staff the simple way to get this done.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have an answer to those who have asked, "how does a lecturer get registered students into the virtual classes?"

The UniAbuja Virtual Classroom system is linked to the UniAbuja Integrated Portal. Staff do not have to do anything since every lecturer was already assigned his or her course at the beginning of the academic year by his or her Head of Department. Students also do not have to do anything since they registered for their courses during the course registration period. Once a lecturer migrates a particular course to the Virtual Classroom system, all the students registered in that course would automatically migrate with the course and would automatically have access to the course virtually and the lecturers have access to the students virtually. No one needs to do anything else! Just continue teaching and learning!

I am also happy to inform you all that the University Senate on December 30, 2020, unanimously approved a revised Calendar for the remaining of 2019/2020 Academic Year, and also revised 2020/2021 calendar. The Senate fixed a tentative date for resumption of classes with the hope that Coronavirus pandemic would ease and the Federal Government would direct the reopening of the University. Here, see below the revised calendar for the remaining part of 2019-2020 Academic Session:

2019/2020 SESSION (Revised Calendar)

Due to Coronavirus pandemic, the 2019/2020 academic session which started normally had to be abandoned for lockdown and eventual ASUU strike. This calendar provides an opportunity to complete the academic year and also catch up on the 2020/2021 Academic Year.

First Semester, 2019/2020

Friday 20th December, 2019 - Student Registration online begins

Monday 13th January, 2020 - Classes begin

Thursday – Friday, January 16-17, 2020 - New Student Orientation

Monday 20th January, 2020 - STUDENTS REGISTRATION ENDS

Saturday 22nd February, 2020 - 2019/2020 Convocation Ceremony

Thursday – Friday 5th-6th March, 2020 - Mid-Term Break

Monday 9th to Wednesday 13th March 2020 - Add and Drop

Tuesday 17th March, 2020 - UNDERGRADUATE MATRICULATION DAY/CEREMONY ***



January 4, 2021 to January 29, 2021: Academic Staff to explore virtual classroom teaching

February 1, 2020: Physical Classes resume, Arrangements to observe COVID 19 Regulations and Announcements by the Federal Government

February 12, 2021: 2019/2020 First Semesters Classes End

February 15, 2021 to February 26, 2021; Final Examination, First Semester, 2019/2020 Session

Monday March 22, 2021: All First Semester Grades Uploaded and submitted to the HODs by 12 noon.

Tuesday March 23, 2021: Faculty Boards’ Meeting to Approve Grades by 4.00PM

Thursday March 25, 2021: SBC meeting on Grades by 10.00AM

Monday March 29, 2021: Senate Meeting to Approve Grades by 10 am

Tuesday March 30, 2021: Electronic Release of First Semester’s GRADES, 12 noon



Second Semester, 2019/2020



Monday March 1, 2021: 2019/2020 Second Semester 2019/20 Classes begin

Monday March 1, 2021: Add and Drop Begins

March 16, 2021: Add and Drop Ends

Friday May 7, 2021: Second Semester 2019/20 Classes End

Monday 10th to Saturday 22 May 2021: Final Examinations

Wednesday May 26, 2021: Second Semester Final Grades Upload and Submitted to HOD by 12 noon

Thursday May 27, 2021: Faculty Boards’ Meeting to Approve Grades by 4.00PM

Saturday May 29, 2021: SBC Meeting on Grades by 10 am

Tuesday June 1, 2021: Senate Meeting to approve grades

Wednesday June 2, 2021: Electronic Release of Final GRADES to students by 12 noon

Saturday July 12, 2021: 2019/2020 Convocation Ceremony

Again, this is a plan by the University Senate to ensure that when hopefully the Federal Government reopens the Universities, the University of Abuja is ready to proceed, and where, God forbid, the coronavirus pandemic continues to bite, the Virtual Classroom system would be available for lecturers to continue their classes.

Please, do your best to support your University in this new year. Continue to uplift yourself and to achieve greatness and progress. The greatness of the UofA depends on your own greatness. With your determination, the University of Abuja will continue to excel this year!

We are strengthening our technology infrastructure, as the Internet fibre is being laid across the campus right now and is almost completed. A contract would soon be signed with GLO to supply Internet so that every part of campus is covered. Computer laboratories are in the process of being established all over the campus, and more!

The truth is that the University Management understands the new reality that students and staff face with Coronavirus pandemic and with the advent of the migration to Virtual Teaching/Learning. The University will continue to explore new ways of strengthening staff and students to make all this easier and comfortable. Please do not hesitate to send me personal emails if you have some ideas and suggestions, or if you have any questions to ask.

Again, all my best wishes in the new year, and thank you for your kind attention.

Abdul-Rasheed
Vice Chancellor

I have often heard some Preachers Emphasize the Necessity of Water Baptism,in order to be a recipient of the Holy ghost Baptism,even in scripture,many were immersed in Water before receiving the holy ghost. but have seen people who claim to have been baptized with the holy ghost,evidenced by speaking in tongues immediately after their salvation experience before doing water baptism.pls I need your Informed opinions on these

ABUJA’S MONUMENTS OF FAITH AND THE DUNAMIS PHENOMENON

By Leke Beecroft

“Then answered I them and said unto them, “The God of heaven, He will prosper us. Therefore we His servants will arise and build; but ye have no portion, nor right, nor memorial in Jerusalem.”
Nehemiah 2:20

Just like plans to move the Israeli Capital from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, Nigeria joined the rank of nations that relocated their capitals when she moved her capital city from Lagos to Abuja. The move initiated in 1975 was announced by the Nigerian Head of State on February 3 1976 at a time when he coincidentally was in a running battle with the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa of Church of God Mission International (CGMI). The newly built CGMI Faith Miracle Centre auditorium opposite the airport in Benin was to be bulldozed after a Federal Military Government Decree declared it ‘illegally situated’ and Idahosa had declared that the building will not go down. A few days afterwards, the Head of State was felled by coupists. The CGMI Auditorium remained standing (till date) while the plans to move to Abuja continued. Subsequent governments contributed their quota to the relocation and on December 12 1991, the seat of Power finally moved and there began a massive exodus to the ‘New Jerusalem’.

As the populace moved to Abuja, the Gospel of Christ also made its way there and facilities like Nicon Noga Hilton Hotel, Agura Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and Towers and the Abuja Township Stadium among several others were on hand to meet the needs of various Christian groups, Fellowships and Churches at a cost. The competition for the use of, as well as the cost of rented facilities soon brought the need for these establishments to own facilities especially in the Area 1 (Old Federal Secretariat) section mapped out for use by Churches. The Lutheran Church, The Apostolic Church, Anglican Church and COCIN (Church of Christ in Nations) were allotted spaces. Also, CGMI, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Living Faith Church (LFC) and Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) were among the first Pentecostal ministries to be allotted spaces. Most of the ‘mainline’ churches had gotten allocations in the central part of the City and the Pentecostals seemed bound to play on the fringes.

The sight of the Ecumenical Church under construction since 1989 became an embarrassment by the late 90s to Christendom in Nigeria. Here was the Capital City developing faster than any other city on the African continent yet hotels were regularly filled with worshippers while this Temple remained desolate. Strong in my memory with much nostalgia are several spiritually charged events attended at the Sheraton Conference Hall while few metres away at Papillon, Luigi and Mirabelle restaurant entrances, women of easy virtue laid in wait. In the meantime however, Idahosa had taken up the gauntlet and by 1996, he had not only grown a bishopric of his ministry but in addition built a Word of Faith (Secondary) School whose foundation was laid on 5th December 1996 with the Minister of the FCT present. The School is collocated with the Church at Area 1, Abuja. Bishop Oyedepo followed suit in the steps of his mentor and a few metres across the road from CGMI, LFC built a 2000 capacity auditorium at about the same time. Archbishop John Praise of the Dominion Chapel International Churches located their headquarters a short distance from LFC. Having built a large structure down the road (Now Provincial Headquarters, FCT Province 4), the RCCG in her characteristic manner had begun to sprinkle hundreds of parishes around the nooks and crannies of the Capital including many of the upper-class hotels and event centres. This was sequel to the Lekki ’98 event that announced the then 46 year old Church to the global stage.

Dunamis International Gospel Centre (DIGC) did not appear suddenly. In May 1996, Dr. Paul Enenche, a young medical doctor along with his ‘nursing mother’ wife, Dr. Becky had set time apart to seek the face of God concerning the next step of their lives and this has been discussed in our ‘Joshua Generation’ series. Eventually, they both put away their medical certificates against strong advice from Dr. Becky’s father who at that time was already a Professor of Medicine and their lecturer as students of the University of Jos. By November of 1996, they relocated to Abuja and their first service was held at the Abuja Centre for Arts and Culture. They moved shortly after to Sheraton Hotel and Towers up till mid 1997 before proceeding to their present site which is exactly opposite CGMI and just before the Lutheran Church (at the time just a stone throw from LFC). My first encounter with Pastor Enenche and DIGC was in 1998 at the launch of his first two books. Bishop Oyedepo was present to dedicate the books and a year later at the dedication of Faith Tabernacle by Oyedepo; the 50,000 capacity world’s largest Church auditorium, Pastor Enenche was also present.

By 1999, LFC then pastored by Dele Bamgboye had moved away from the Old Secretariat to her new Church site on the other side of Durumi and just after the Catholic Secretariat. In a period of 6 months, LFC had then constructed a 5,000 capacity auditorium which was soon filled many times over despite the addition of overflow facilities. It is worthy of note that before the advent of Churches into Area 1, it was largely a dumpsite, a mechanic village, a haven for men of the underworld and a hideout for hoodlums, thieves, prostitutes, and drug peddlers. The presence of Churches soon took care of that malaise and the area soon earned the sobriquet ‘Church Hill’ because of the many churches scattered all over the area. Church Hill got the name because of the hilly terrain. Dunamis stands tall, the first Church on the street on approach from The Old Secretariat.

Darkness abhors Light. The displacement of agents of darkness from Church Hill did not come easy. One day, an Usher in Dunamis was stabbed on his way to a church service and Pastor Enenche stepped out with a few ministers and cursed the perpetrators of the dastardly act.
In a matter of days, a fight ensued among the hoodlums causing them to kill themselves. They were soon rounded up by the Police and their dominance of the area ended. To aid the Police in securing the area, Dunamis gifted a patrol vehicle to them and when that became rickety, they gave a second one. During one of her services, a bird fell from the sky and landed in one of the Dunamis Overflow Sections. Shockingly and in the presence of worshippers, the bird transformed into a human being -a lady. The lady was ministered to, brought to the fore of the Church and led to Christ. She was asked to come the following day and according to eye witnesses, she looked a lot better than she did the previous day. The news soon spread by witnesses at the scene and this in turn led to a massive influx of multitudes to Dunamis and consequently, the growth of the Church. The Federal Government had tarred the roads from the Expressway to the Old Federal Secretariat and stopped just before the “Church Hill”. Dunamis took on the responsibility and tarred the Church Hill road, installed streetlights and donated at least 5 transformers to the community.’

‘In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not’.
John 1:4-5

In May 1999, President Obasanjo held his inauguration thanksgiving at the First Baptist Church, Garki, which was still under construction. Obasanjo’s presidency brought a seeming urgency to the establishment and construction of Churches all over the capital. Pastors Ina and Sarah Omakwu both of ECWA origin who had returned to Nigeria from the USA in 1993 found the Family Worship Centre with 47 members and soon began to construct one of the most beautiful churches in the Nigerian capital. This was completed and dedicated by Pastor Ina in Wuye in the year 2003, shortly before he passed on. By 2002, Foursquare Gospel Church Asokoro was established and also deemed it fit to build a beautiful edifice for The Lord which was soon completed. At this point, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) organised to ensure the speedy completion of the Ecumenical Church now known as the National Church of Nigeria: the primary christian place of worship in Nigeria. In just over a year, the Church was completed and the dedication service on October 2, 2005 was presided over by the Most Reverend Peter Jasper Akinola, the then Anglican Primate of Nigeria.
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) also put up a 4,000 capacity auditorium at Utako. By 2004, Dayo Olutayo left the LFC at Durumi and established the Good Tidings Bible Church International which also soon moved to Utako. The architecturally crafted and cosy 4,000 capacity Utako Church project started in 2007 and by 2012, it was dedicated by then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor. The Dayo Olutayo led ministry plays a big role in feeding the poor and helping the less privileged irrespective of religion in a scheme called “Lifegate Care Centres” established in several places around the Capital with the aim of feeding of the poor. The ministry also hosts a quarterly reach-out event tagged “Kingdom Welfare Day”. This day is typically set apart for the provision of clothing and other necessary materials for the poor in the city. The Church has also established a Primary and Secondary School. House on the Rock moved into Abuja in 1999 and in her characteristic manner, she set up in hotels to ensure ambience for her worshippers. In June 2007, she commenced her ‘Citadel and Towers’, a beautiful structure at the City Gate, Abuja. The building christened ‘The Transformation Centre’ is described as a Capital City Community Development Centre where several initiatives to benefit the City will proceed from.
Commonwealth of Zion Assembly (COZA) is one of the most popular Churches in The FCT. Established in Ilorin in 1999 from very humble beginnings as ‘Divine Delights’, the Church made her advent into the Nigerian Capital in 2008, led by Pastors Biodun and Modele Fatoyinbo. COZA in Abuja went off with a bang and by 2011, the church had moved to the This Day Dome in the City Centre where a fortune was spent to host her weekly services. In December 2014, COZA relocated to her world-class 3,500 capacity auditorium on Guzape Hills where the ‘Takeover Generation’ throng regularly and which on a regular hosts world class speakers and gospel musicians more than any other Church in the country. The beautiful COZA Auditorium stretches across 2,450 sq metres with a further 700 sq metres designated as foyer area. The conveniences are located beneath the structure while the sound system is about the best one can find in the country.
Joseph Iginla’s Champions City of Wonders located at Chikakore, Kubwa is also worthy of mention. Though on the outskirts, the project which began in 2013 stands out as one of the largest auditoria in Abuja. A visit in January 2017 led yours truly to count the chairs in the massive 14,000 capacity structure.

As a ministry known for large structures, LFC soon felt the need to ease up the Durumi traffic. After constructing the ‘Winners’ Highway’ at Durumi and running 4 services on Sundays, she began a new building in a massive compound at Jahi. Jahi however did not meet the vision of the leaders of the Church. Eventually after establishing other branches in Lokogoma, Sunnyvale, Gwarinpa and Life Camp among many others, she proceeded to the suburbs of the City in 2010 to build the 15,000 capacity LFC Goshen together with a Youth Church, Primary and Secondary Schools, a Guest House, a 45 unit Housing Estate and Bishop Courts for the President and First Vice Presidents of the Commission. All these were completed in 15 months. It should be noted that though the 700 acre Goshen is not located in the FCT, just like the Headquarters in Ota, most worshippers take the 40km trip every Sunday from Abuja.

Dunamis which is the focal point of this writ soon started running 3 Sunday services in their Headquarter Church in Area 1.The Church also opened Harvest Centres in the FCT, and State Branches around the Country. Currently, there are over 50 Harvest Centres in the FCT and at least 47 branches around the country. The crowd began to surge and the church moved to running five services of 90 minutes duration each. In 2015, necessity was laid on the church to create room for the sixth service, and although service times was reduced to 80 minutes each, congregants are sure to encounter the “feelable", tangible presence of God,and get a word in season within the new time frame. Today, widows from the community where the Church is situated are being financially empowered in their numbers by the church, while hundreds of orphans from the community are on scholarship by the same Church. A lady who was identified as the daughter of a one time head of that community once testified in the Church that upon the death of her polygamist father, she was withdrawn from secondary school. The church took up her education and sponsored her through higher institution. As at the time of her testimony, she was a certified pilot.

Dr. Enenche had received Divine instructions in a night revelation concerning the relocation of Dunamis Headquarters to a place along the airport road in the FCT with specific landmarks. He sent out surveyors to locate these landmarks all to no avail. He eventually gave up searching for a season and began to make maximum use of the present facility. His wife however was certain that the said piece of land was still available. The conviction was stronger with every journey on that route to the Airport. En route the airport one day, Dr. Becky nudged her husband in a reminder about this ‘land’. Not wanting to get into such a closed conversation, he asserted that there was no such available land on the Airport Road. He however grew restless in his spirit one day as he sent again for a surveyor, laid hands on him and sent him out again to look for that place that had been so clearly described to him by The Lord. The surveyor returned this time with good news about seeing the exact landmark which The Lord had shown Dr. Enenche. As God would have it, The land owners were willing to sell as much as the Church was willing to buy. Upon inspection of the land, the exact landmark that was shown to him in that revelation was present on that land. This set the stage for the establishment of The Lord’s Garden.

This is the only paragraph that actually has the issue sir. It just has to be changed to past tense.
======
In August 2014, Bishop Oyedepo was invited to dedicate the landed property in a Ground Breaking Service held on the bare ground which had been secured at a cost of over $15 million, debt free.The initial projection at the Lord’s Garden was a 75,000 capacity auditorium. The plans soon changed and is now a 100,000 capacity Church auditorium and consequently the largest Church auditorium in the world as well as largest covered roof hall in Africa as at today.

The new auditorium is built like a stadium and the roof of the project alone according to expatriates who were involved, cost about $5 million. Like his mentor Oyedepo’s projects, the building has no visible internal pillar while the angular pillars swallowed trailer loads of cement. The Destiny Academy (an Elementary and High School) and the Pastoral Quarters stand tall with a lovely recreation park in the Lord’s Garden with plans for a Shopping Mall, Two Office Towers of 7 floors each, a 7-Floor 5 star hotel. There will also be a * Medical Centre, a 5000-seater Youth Facility, 200 units of guest chalets and 2 Gas Stations eventually.
The building of the auditorium was completed without a single dime taken as loan from any Bank or any other Institution.

To the Glory of God alone and for the benefit of humanity, The Lord’s Garden was dedicated and opened for use on 24th November 2018. It was an epoch making day in the Body of Christ in Nigeria and worldwide as a large number of fathers in Christendom such as Pastor Adeboye, Bishop Oyedepo, Pastor Ashimolowo, Apostle Kure, Pastor Ibiyeomie as well as many others attended the event hosted by Dr. Pastors Paul and Becky Enenche who have become bridge-builders between the fathers and the sons in the Body of Christ. With this and many more in the offing, Abuja becomes a foremost city on the global map for the propagation of the Gospel of Christ.

“Cry yet, saying, Thus saith the Lord of hosts; My cities through prosperity shall yet be spread abroad; and the Lord shall yet comfort Zion, and shall yet choose Jerusalem.”
Zechariah 1:17

This same Psychotic Nabena said yesterday that PDP created SARS, whereas the Policing unit was formed as far back as 1992..... Not surprised,he knows the brainless APC zombefied and Mutated Homosapiens will swallow every rubbish he vomits Hook line and sinker. Party of Idiots.

BREAKING
COVID-19:
-RCCG, Deeper Life, Christ Embassy ReOpen Over Ten Thousand Lagos Churches.
-Winners Chapel Open over 1000 Lagos Centres to Sunday Worship for First Time Ever.
-Olukoya’s MFM, Sam Adeyemi ‘s Daystar, Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain, Godman Akinlabi’s Elevation Church other’s to remain closed.

Hundreds of thousands will flock the churches in Lagos State this Sunday as restrictions on churches have been lifted.

The Pastor Adeboye led Redeemed Christian Church of God with well over 6,000 parishes in Lagos will be open for services while Bishop David Oyedepo led Winners Chapel will for the first time in her history open her over 1000 Zonal Centres for 3 Sunday Worship Services. Faith Tabernacle which is usually used for the Church services would only be open on August 14th so the Church is taking advantage of her Lagos facilities.
Deeper Life and Christ Embassy has also announced plans for reopening of her myriad of churches around Lagos.

On the other hand, Daniel Olukoya’s MFM, Sam Adeyemi’s Daystar, Tunde Bakare’s Latter Rain (The Citadel) and Godman Akinlabi’s Elevation Church will be closed to worship.

Daystar released the following press report:

Dear Daystar Member,

We are aware of the Lagos State Government’s announcement that churches can resume physical services from 9th August 2020. We thank God for the progress made so far by the federal and state governments, the NCDC and our frontline health workers. However, the leadership of Daystar Christian Centre has resolved NOT to open her worship centres for physical gathering on the immediate.

Daystar Christian Centre will continue to hold her services online exclusively pending further review.

We look forward to the resumption of physical services in a safe environment. We urge our members and friends to join us on all our online platforms for life transforming services.

1. www.live.daystarng.org

2. https://www.facebook.com/daystarchristiancentre

3. www.twitter.com/daystarng

4. www.instagram.com/daystarng, and

5. The Daystar Mobile app (Android/iOS)

God’s mercy that has preserved us thus far will cause this plague to pass over our families, nations and planet in Jesus’ name. Amen!

Sam & Nike Adeyemi

Senior Pastors

We will release a list of other churches opening or not, to aid decision for Sunday worship as we receive more news going forward.

Note: As at 2003, there were over 30,000 churches registered in Lagos.

1966: HOW SAMUEL LADOKE AKINTOLA WAS ASSASSINATED

“Akintola, come down; you are for lawful arrest by the army on orders from HQ 2 Brigade,” Nwobosi shouted.

“Under arrest ke?” Akintola said to himself, “Oya, come and greet your mother’s husband,” as he cocked his gun.

When Nwobosi hit the door in an attempt to force it open, the Premier opened fire from inside his bedroom with a submachine gun, shooting contiguously and continuously through the closed door.

“Return fire,” Captain Nwobosi ordered his men, which they did, enormously.

“Please sir, surrender sir. Stop shooting, please. They only came to take us to Lagos,” Fani-Kayode pleaded and shouted from the landrover urging the Premier to cease firing and surrender. But the Premier kept on firing until he ran out of ammunition.

Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was the 13th Aare Ona Kakanfo (Field Marshal General) of Yorubaland. A title, whose holder, according to a widely believed myth, was not expected to live long nor experience a calm death.

“Krrr, krrr,” the gun sounded. The Premier had run out of ammunition but the captain and his soldiers did not know this, they thought he was reloading and waiting for them. Akintola, now powerless, held out a white handkerchief in a sign of surrender and proceeded to the verandah. Ajao and Uloh who had been hiding in one of the other rooms grabbed him by his arms and dragged him downstairs.

“Bring him out, bring him out,” Nwobosi shouted repeatedly after the firing had ceased and he sighted his soldiers with the Premier downstairs.

“Now, now, boys. Be gentle. We are friends here,” Akintola said resignedly.

“You shot at us. You resisted arrest. It was a direct order from the HQ,” Nwobosi thundered, “we are to eliminate anyone who resisted arrest.”

“Boys, it is for the good of the country. Why don’t we negotiate? I will see to it that you treated well. I have the Prime Minister’s ears,” Akintola cajoled.

“We are soldiers, sir. We obey direct orders. Egbikor, Chukwu,” Nwobosi called his soldiers and signalled to the two men to open fire on the Premier. Fani-Kayode stared in horror as the Premier endured a deluge of bullets as he fell to his knees still gasping for breath. Nwobosi then joined them in firing at the Premier as he fell backward with a thud as life hurriedly escaped from him.

The Captain and his men then released the policemen and proceeded with Fani-Kayode in the landrover to Lagos as the 3-Ton truck headed towards Abeokuta. They all left Akintola’s mutilated body, riddled with bullets, surrounded by empty shell casings soaked in blood, lying there on the bare ground in his courtyard. The Aare Ona Kakanfo had fallen to his death. The curse persists. #HistoryVille

Source: Page 70-74, A Carnage Before Dawn, Based on Nigeria’s First Coup D’état.

You can get the soft copy (₦1000) here: https:///2FNbPWs

You can get the paperback (₦2000) here: https:///2C5NziV

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The Supreme Court Ruled against Uche Nwosu because he already had a valid ticket as APC candidate, according to Justice Adamu Augie,Nwosu could not "Benefit from his own iniquity" and Since the supreme Court cannot be used to Enforce illegality,Nwosu's appeal was dismissed in its entirety. But in Obasekis case,he was not yet a Valid candidate of the APC when he defected and got the PDP ticket. So the two scenario's are entirely different

Twitter Activist Imam of peace Lambast Buhari for his Appalling attitude to the plight of Christians in Nigeria as they face Different attacks from Fulani herdsmen.

see his tweets.

FROM THE ARCHIVES AS THE LIBERATION MANDATE CLOCKS 39:

“AT THE BASE OF THIS MINISTRY THERE WILL BE A ‘TENT’ THAT WILL SIT 50,000”!
Prophecy of 10th April 1982

HOW THE MOST FOOLISH MOVE IN CHURCH GROWTH HISTORY BECAME ONE OF THE WISEST

*Remembering the Exodus to Canaanland
*Almost 22 years on.

by Leke Beecroft

In ‘3 Easy Ways To Grow Your Church’ by Lena Kelly, ‘Accessibility to worshippers’ was named as a most strategic factor. Also, according to the Church of England in her journal, ‘Shaping Strategies for mission and growth in rural multi-church groups’ “The geographical location of the church parish has a significant impact on growth or decline...”

The Iyana Ipaja road was bursting to the seams during 5 morning services every Sunday and 2 evening services each on Tuesdays and thursdays. The junction leading to Ipaja through Gowon Estate up to ‘Winners’ bus stop’ and down to Olorun Adaba bus stop all the way to Egbeda was worst hit. This is coupled with the fact that Lagos, Nigeria is already unique for heavy traffic. The Church which bought over a few brothels along Raji Oba road had grown strong over the few years since it was established in Lagos with 300 people in July 1989 and was slowly becoming a public nuisance. This was despite the building of a 3,000 capacity auditorium as well as a L Shaped structure and special canopies from South Africa that could take up 7,000 more people at once. The brothels had disappeared, however, new businesses of all kinds had filled the area, Bible sellers, other Christian literature and tapes as well as refreshments of all kinds. A notable popcorn vendor and university graduate had testified in the church how his popcorn business had thrived during services until he bought a new car. During services, gutters and rooftop of adjoining houses were filled with worshippers. In the event of an emergency or any incident that would require immediate evacuation, the consequences would be catastrophic. A move out of this area by Winners’ Chapel had become of utmost necessity.

Shortly before the dedication of the new Winners’ facility on 30th December 1995 by Archbishop Benson Idahosa, the Presiding Bishop, Dr David Oyedepo revealed that God had spoken to him on the 12th of the same month “I will yet relocate you to your Rehoboth (Place of enlargement and flourishing).

No sooner had the Church facility been dedicated than she sent pastors to begin to search for a new place. By the end of 1997, a possible new location was discovered. As Bishop David Oyedepo got on the ride from Iyana Ipaja in a long convoy, he soon discovered after about 20km and one hour on the decrepit road that they had crossed the old Ota Toll gate and were now bound for the Idi Iroko border of Nigeria and Benin Republic. He got upset. “Where are you taking us to” he fumed and scolded. “Are we joking here? What were you thinking” he asked his pastors who had no response as the mood was not right for one. But for the confusion that would be caused by turning around in the middle of the trip, he almost stopped the trip. However, he decided to continue and see the location as a matter of courtesy and then to show gratitude to those who had been in search for a while. The convoy soon arrived the area and after a very brief survey, Bishop Oyedepo called everybody to just give God thanks for the effort so far. At that moment, he heard clearly from God in his heart ‘THIS IS THE PLACE’.

Shortly before that and in another instance, he had received a separate instruction to ‘Pastor this one church and I will make the whole world your branches’ thus, a church located in the suburbs of a little town in Ota, Ogun State and 40 km from the centre of Lagos became the Lagos Church. It was clearly a move in the wrong direction and negated all wise principles of church growth.

On 29 August 1998, we thronged the venue of the foundation laying event at the new camp. It was a bit easy to relate to the concept as the Enoch Adeboye led Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) had set the pace with the ‘Redemption Camp’ back in 1983. The energetic 44 year old Bishop Oyedepo and his wife resplendent in their red matching suits with Mummy Faith spotting white sneakers led the throng. Sunny Okosun was present to minister while a number of people especially some non members who had come to see for themselves kept asking-will it be as big as RCCG Camp?
David Oyedepo eventually came up to minister and his first words rang loud ‘We are NOT in a competition, we are in a Commission (The great commission). He went on to reveal the project’s 12 year plan. The Y shaped church building would be-Shiloh or ‘Faith Tabernacle’, the secondary school would be ‘Moriah’, pastors’ accommodation would be ‘Ramoth’ (Remember the biblical Ramoth-Gilead, home of Prophet Samuel) Hebron -birthplace of Kings and Queens would be the proposed university grounds (the Nigerian military Government had just announced new laws for the establishment of private universities). A skyscraper would also serve as the church secretariat. The whole 530 acreage was to be known as ‘CANAANLAND’. I imagined how all these would happen by 2010.

My Dad and I decided to visit a village nearby after the foundation laying to see our cousins. In his conversation with them, he announced something big was coming to their environment. They looked knowingly but disappointingly and nodded in the direction of the proposed Federal Government project. No, my Dad declared with a tone of finality. It’s a big church project. My cousins worshipped in a white garment church. It obviously did not make sense that a church would handle a project bigger than the federal government.

A little over 12 months later, the Faith Tabernacle built at the cost of about N900 million ($9 million) was announced on the world stage. Global statisticians rated her as the 13th largest in the world with 50,000 worshippers in terms of Sunday worship attendance thus launching her into global prominence.

All over the world, churches strive to gain access to the strategic City Centre to become more visible and consequently grow. This little church was doing the exact opposite.A concerned pastor approached Bishop Oyedepo and asked, what happens to those who cannot relocate to Ota from Iyana Ipaja? ‘They will find another church’, responded the Bishop, the cloud has moved to Canaanland. A family friend muttered to my hearing ‘Winners are going to lose many members’. His statement was very logical; why should a relatively young church move from the Centre of the city to the bush near the border? Who will follow them? A few days later, a 35 km trip from Canaanland by 6pm ended at Ikosi -Ketu at exactly 12 midnight. This was a most fatal mistake that would have severe consequences on the Church.

Coincidentally, the August 1998 foundation laying had happened a few months after the departure of Archbishop Idahosa and before the RCCG’s estimated 7 million gathering at Lekki 98. It was the same year Deeper Life and Mountain of Fire began moving to their present Conference Centre and Prayer City. Canaanland’s initial 530 acres was procured at N200 million ($2.7 million). These moves beginning with the Ota exodus had consequences for the growth of the gospel in Nigeria.

CONSEQUENCES OF THE MOVE TO OTA

Evangelism
The move to Canaanland necessitated the need for Evangelism on a much larger scale than the Church ever experienced. Street Evangelism has taken a new dimension since the relocation.

Signs and Wonders
Yoruba land is known among other things for the presence of the supernatural such as witches and wizards. Ota however is referred to as the headquarters of witches in yorubaland thus the common adage ‘o buru ju aje Ota’ which implies someone ‘More dangerous than the witches of Ota’. During construction, dead animals with human faces were discovered in Canaanland.,Today, rather than being the Headquarters of witches, it has become the Headquarters of one of the world’s largest churches with miracles happening weekly to the glory of God.

Crime Reduction
Reduction in crime has happened over time. The place has become an urban center of sorts and no more a spot for criminals to attack travellers on the lonely road.

Real Estate
The move to Ota has turned a forest into a city. The initial 530 acres has now grown to over 17,000 acres. Meanwhile the facilities are world standard with a system working better than that experienced outside the walls. Lack of water or even ‘Power outage’, a nemesis currently being battled within Nigeria is unknown within Canaanland. The camp now hosts one of the ten best universities in Africa, 2 secondary schools, primary school, a growing housing estate and hosts the largest attendance globally for a church worshipping in a single place on Sundays. Properties have increased in value. A property of N20,000 in 1999 is now worth N2 million. A Church member who acquired a property at N3 million in 2003 rejected an offer of N30 million for same property in 2013 for being too small.

Growth
The One Church now has 500 Covenant Hour of Prayer (CHOP) locations, 710 Believers Foundation Class locations, 2000+ Zones for midweek worship and 20,000 Winners’ Satellite Fellowship centers.

Economy
The Ota economy received a significant boost. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation, about 1 million dollars is spent weekly by commuters or worshippers to and from Canaanland especially within Ota.

Corporate Social Responsibility
The Church has brought succour to Ota and environs. Roads have been fixed, water provided, a cleaner environment has resulted and businesses have been set up with many of the members of the community exposed to education through scholarships.

Global Recognition
The move to Ota kept the Church away from the public view while she increased. The BBC had refused to accept that it was the largest church as at 1999. Despite church historian, C.P Wagner’s announcement in 2004, it took the release of the Guinness World Records in 2008 for the world to appreciate the magnitude of what had happened in 1998. The West was catching up slower than ever before.

Bishop Oyedepo has not failed to remind worshippers that ‘Home is never far’. The Ota Church has grown from 1 service in 1999 to 4 services today. The 50,000 capacity Faith Tabernacle now has an additional 52,000 capacity overflow facility.

While heeding to the one church commandment however, flexibility has necessitated the opening of zonal centers for weekly services which has led to the growth in attendance from 5,000 traveling to Ota on thursdays to over 120,000 at various zones after the change. Up to 400,000 have been counted while the Church held 5 services with
25,000 cars driving in on a single Sunday. This would definitely not have happened at Raji Oba.

CHURCH INFLUENCE AND FUTURE PLANS

While the habit of of fixing roads would continue for now, it is necessary to have a train system running effectively to move the masses to and from Canaanland. The Church had come into an agreement with the government in 1999 for a train system but the Government later reneged.
Many members and non members have been inspired to go into real estate and have become wealthier. Many churches and other institutions have also been inspired to start private universities since a young church could run one successfully.

Covenant University pioneered the trend of awarding first class degrees to deserving students contrary to the old order in public universities where some grades were reserved for ‘God’. Universities in Nigeria now give first class degrees to those deserving.

Some of Bishop Oyedepo’s spiritual sons have also been inspired to build large auditoria for the convenience of worshippers. Of note is David Ibiyeomie’s 90,000 capacity ‘Hand of God’ being built by Salvation Ministries and Dr Paul Enenche’s Glory Dome of Dunamis International Gospel Centre.

Going Forward-Kenneth Copeland has prophesied on the 100,000 capacity auditorium and adjoining facilities for states, countries and continents which would be the Church growth 9th wonder of the world.

Canaanland has proven that the ‘Foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of men’. Abraham was told to journey 3 days to a place he did not know to make a sacrifice which changed his story and our faith forever. This among other reasons makes it difficult to question the move to Canaanland till date.
Today, while the country could be forced to refer to the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Estate on Bonny Island as a proof that things could work in Nigeria, the bigger miracle is that under our very noses, God has laid an example with many Cities of God in Nigeria including Canaanland, Ota, Africa.

1 Corinthians 1:25
Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Acts 13:44
And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.