The security team attached to the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Camp along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway have prevented Muslim ladies who adorn the Hijab from entering their premises for the registration of National Identity Number (NIN).
RCCG is one of the enrolment centres accredited by the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) in Ogun State.
Muslim News findings revealed that the management of the Church had instructed its security team not to allow Muslim ladies in Hijab enter the premises during the NIN registration.
Many victims told our correspondent that they were turned back at the gate over refusal to remove their hijabs as they tried to beat the February 9 deadline.
It would be recalled that the FG had in mid-December, 2020 directed that all SIM cards be linked to the National Identity Number (NIN).
To ensure that no Nigerian is deprived from the exercise, the National Task Force on NIN and SIM Registration announced that the December 30 deadline has been extended to February 9, 2021 for those without NIN.
But many Muslim ladies who reside around the RCCG camp area expressed their displeasure over what they termed “discrimination against the hijab which violates their fundamental rights.”
Risikat Agbabiaka told Muslim News that she was stopped from entering the premises on Thursday because of her Hijab, saying, “I could have gone to Owode-Obafe LGA but it is far from my house. The only accredited centre in my area is RCCG camp.
“Unfortunately, the church security official prevented me from going in. He asked me to remove my Hijab but I declined. So, I left.”
Another victim, who identifies herself as Fatimah confirmed the news to Muslim News on Friday, saying they were not allowed to use the Hijab while in the Church premises for the NIN registration.
According to her, “This is very wrong. I am highly disappointed. And I don’t really blame them because they don’t really like us. But I put the blame on the NIMC who authorised them to be doing the registration in their Church.
“I’m using this medium to call on the Federal Government, particularly the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, to delist Churches or any other religious organisations who discriminate against members of other faiths from the enrolment centres or any other government exercises.”
A security official who spoke with Muslim News on condition of anonymity confirmed the report, saying the “No Hijab” order was an instruction from the management of the Church and it is their duty to follow it.
“I didn’t make the law. I am only enforcing it. No Hijab is allowed in the Church premises during or after NIN registration. If you have issues with the instruction, come to the Church Secretariat,” he added.
Can you see this bigotry act and attitude of Rccg Matt, wether they like it or not we both own this country together. But tolerance should be respected .
Now that it obvious that the church authority is taken this mere opportunity to disrespect other religion faithful. The government should therefore delist the center. I don’t understand some people’s mentality.
Their case is worst and I don’t blame them. They hate Muslims with passion but that cannot stop us from practicing our faith
This is most unfortunate, NIMC authority should relocate the registration center out of redeem camp to a neutral place since RCCG can’t tolerate the Muslims neighbor in their premises.
It’s ridiculous for any religious organization descriminate against other on the issue Federal government, Iwe condemned this nonsensical act and the authority must do something about it
Abdulkabir Abdul Azeez,let the government give the Muslims another place of registration if the church can not allowed our ladies to enter with hijab,then why not outside the church?
The Muslim community should fight to have another centre outside the church. That’s their misfortune of they don’t allow us enter their premises. We are not pollutants, rather they are. We clean, we wash after using the toilet, they don’t, we do ghuslul janabat after meeting our wives, they dont. It’s just pure hatred.
The greatest enemy of the Nigerian Muslims remains RCCG
Nimc center shouldn’t be there in the first place,they hate Islam with passion. Government should relocate the center to another place that can accommodate all Nigerians not only Christians.
Worship place becomes NIN registration centre , it’s disgusting.may God guide us to be able to love one another.
Did you also wash your armpit that smells most??
You would have better say that you are looking for an avenue to also pour out you hatred..
Would you allow a man into the mosque to register putting on his shoes? There is what is called mutual respect. Would you allow a man with plaited hairdo and tatoo like sango worshipper to come around the mosque for any purppse? No. No matter how liberal a muslim is, he wouldnt allow a man access his wives in pudah. Those are faith in practice. Without any disrespect to my Muslims friends, let us respect the faith of the redeemed people. Redeemed camp is a private residential area. The registration center there is to serve to interest of the residents. If a christian or traditional worshiper has any business to be in a muslim restricted area he or she must be ready to comply with their rules or find an alternative. That shows respect for the host. It should mutual understanding. Instead of all these inciteful statements, let there be a center in the mosque around the same place to serve the interest of the Muslims in the neighbourhood. We must learn how to leave together in harmony by mutually respecting our faiths, likes and dislikes. I stand with the muslim ladies who were turned back at redeemed gate by joining my voice for a NIN registration center in the central mosque within the same vicinity. They have the absolute right to register for NIN without discrimination and we also identify the uncensored rights of the redeemed people to their property.
You are comparing apples with mangoes. No muslim community will provide its mosque for activities other than Islamic activities such as prayer, wedding, prayers for the deceased, etc. If the muslim community allows its mosque premises (not the mosque) for NIN registration, that muslim community has no right to discriminate against anyone coming in for that purpose. At RCCG, the registration is not done in a church room (as that is very unlikely), but in one of the offices on the premises. It is therefore preposterous to stop women in hijab, as it does no harm to the beliefs of RCCG members. I don’t know how my taking Panadol would cure my neighbor of his headache.
If I may ask, what interest is the NIN centre meant to serve the people of that area different from other people. The centres are created all over Nigeria to serve the same purpose, which is to capture bio-data of Nigerian citizens. Anyone can decide to go to any of the centres to register so long he/she is a citizen of Nigeria. This is where the idea of secularism comes in which including the non-muslim vocally clamour for. The only fault line here is that the authority of Nimc might have failed to define clear terms and conditions guided by the Constitution to the RCCG which is now causing this problem. I believe it’s the same Nimc authority that needs to rectify it. However, your logical perspective of trying to explain and also defend the act of the RCCG does not sound feasible.
Even when it is clearly written in the bible how a woman should dress. When will this craze and envy end?
If a center is created in a mosque for muslims, are there only 2 religions in Nigeria? Accepting to be NIN center requires that the center function for all Nigerians. Simple!
God bless you. You have said my mind. And I think this is fair on both sides
They are afraid of suicide bombers. Many of them like to cover the bomb with jijab.
You can cover your head with a scarf. Many terrorists hide bombs under hijabs. We have to be security conscious now that Nigeria has many loop holes.
In as much as you can’t allow me enter your premises with my shoes on then you have to respect my rules.
Both Moslems & Christians should be held responsible for this dangerous level of discriminatory policies. Was the situation like this in the sixties- seventies. ? In my school days, it was impossible to differentiate between Moslems and Christian students —-relating in complete state of harmony within & outside
school today, we have all turned hypocrites. If our religion can not moderate our characters for common good of all, it’s nothing but
Fraud !