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FOOD SECURITY: LAGOS SPENDS N1.04BN ON LAKE RICE SUBSIDY IN THREE YEARS …Says 711,736 Families Now Take Farming As Occupation In State

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Lagos State Government on Thursday said it has subsidized LAKE Rice to the tune of N1.049billion from December 2016 till date, as part of efforts aimed at sustaining food sufficiency and food security in the State.

Speaking at the ongoing annual Ministerial Press Briefing to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration held at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Oluwatoyin Suarau said that LAKE Rice, which is being sold at a highly subsidized rate of N12,000 per bag of 50kg, has helped crashed the skyrocketing price of rice in the country.

“The State Government has subsidized LAKE Rice under this review period with One Billion, Forty Nine Million, One Hundred and Forty Thousand, Three Hundred and Ninety Five Naira (N1,049,140,395.00). This is targeted towards ensuring food sustainability and food security in the state and as an end result, making Lake Rice a national brand,” he said.

Suarau explained that the subsidy include cost of transportation, bagging and difference in cost price of the rice from other brands, adding that a total of 150 marketers and other ancillary service providers have been empowered through the sale of LAKE Rice.

The Commissioner while restating the commitment of the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode led administration to boost the production of rice disclosed that the State government has completed an agreement to acquire and establish a 32 tonnes per hour rice mill with AG (“Bühler”), a leading rice-mill producer in the world stressing that the establishment of the rice mill is targeted at enhancing food security and creating employment in the State.

“It is estimated that the partnership would facilitate the creation of  274,000 jobs across the agriculture value chain, and will also bring about the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of farm land to produce rice paddy, equating to an estimated 130million Kg of processed rice per year which is an equivalent of 2.6milion 50kg bags of rice”, he said.

The Commissioner said that the establishment of the state-of-the-art rice mill will serve as a platform for Lagos to partner with other South-West States aside the existing collaboration with Kebbi State.

This, he said, was in consonance with the region’s resolve towards achieving economic integration, ensure that adequate rice is supplied to the 32 metric tonnes per hour rice mill and make provision for empowerment programmes for farmers across all the value chains of Agriculture.

Suarau said that the present administration has since inception embarked on agricultural policies and programmes aimed at enhancing food security in the Stated noted that State government has made a lot of deliberate efforts to enhance agriculture with the introduction of programmes in Vegetable farming, poultry, cassava farming and various forms of agro- processing programmes to the youths.

He said that the commitment of the State Government towards the attainment of food security depended largely on cooperation of every resident of the State, stressing that food security and hygienic environment occupies the front burner of the present administration’s plans to facilitate job and wealth creation as well as reduce poverty in the State.

He said during the period under review, a village listing survey was carried out in three agricultural zones of the State with results revealing that about 711,736 families now take farming as occupation in the State.

“The State carried out Village Listing Survey in the three Agricultural Zones, namely West (Badagry); East (Ikorodu) and far East (Epe). The survey revealed that the estimated number of families taking farming as primary occupation is 558,420 while those taking it as secondary occupation is 153,316 in the State,” Suarau said.

The Commissioner also said that a total of 1,500 farmers and marketers across the Five administrative divisions of the State has been empowered  adding also that the Agric Youth Empowerment Scheme has trained over 600 youths in various agricultural enterprises such as Poultry, Fishery and Crop production.

“The State Government has also provided 12 units of coconut processing equipment for coconut processors in the State and this include Stainless two ton per hour coconut greater, 7.5 H.P Electric motor, Industrial burners, Aluminium bowls and spoon among other equipment”, Suarau said.

He assured that the present administration was totally committed to ensuring that the State becomes food secured and continue to demonstrate its all-inclusive system of governance as a means of expanding the dividends of democracy.

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Dr Chris Okafor’s Prophetic Warning Precedes Gas Explosion in Agege Lagos

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Dr Chris Okafor’s Prophetic Warning Precedes Gas Explosion in Agege Lagos

 

 

Barely four days after the Generational Prophet and Senior Pastor of Grace Nation Global, Dr Chris Okafor, warned about a possible gas explosion, an incident involving a gas explosion reportedly occurred around the Ile-Zik Junction Agege motor road, Lagos, on Monday.

 

According to reports, no casualty was recorded from the incident, a development many members of Grace Nation attributed to prayers offered following the prophetic warning issued during the church’s midweek Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance and Solutions (PHDS) service held at the international headquarters of Grace Nation Worldwide in Ojodu Berger, Lagos.

 

During the service, Dr Okafor had cautioned Nigerians, particularly those involved in gas-related businesses, to pray and remain vigilant after disclosing that he foresaw a gas explosion affecting a business environment and nearby properties.

 

Church members described the incident as evidence of the importance of early warning, prayer, and preventive action.

 

They maintained that intercessory prayers helped avert what could have resulted in a major tragedy.

 

The cleric had earlier emphasized that divine revelations are often given to enable people pray and take precautionary measures before disasters occur.

 

He urged business owners and residents to continue observing safety standards while seeking God’s protection.

 

The incident around the Ile-Zik in Agege motor road has since renewed conversations among worshippers about the role of prayer, vigilance, and public safety awareness in preventing disasters.

 

Dr Chris Okafor’s Prophetic Warning Precedes Gas Explosion in Agege Lagos

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Governor Dauda Lawal Hails Troops for Successful Fight against Banditry, Terrorism across Zamfara State

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Governor Dauda Lawal Hails Troops for Successful Fight against Banditry, Terrorism across Zamfara State

 

Governor Dauda Lawal has commended the troops of the Joint Task Force (North West) Operation Fansan Yamma for achieving significant operational successes against bandits in Zamfara State. The troops of the Joint Task Force launched an elaborate and coordinated onslaught in the early hours of Thursday, May 7, 2026, in the Kaura Namoda and Birnin Magaji Local Government Areas of Zamfara State. Following the encounter, troops effectively neutralised three gang leaders and recovered a cache of weapons and ammunition, which included an AK-47 rifle, a machine gun, a locally fabricated handgun, seven rifle magazines and a total of 571 rounds of ammunition.

 

Governor Lawal described the renewed military offensive as timely, particularly due to the successful operation recorded on May 10, 2026, which disrupted a significant gathering of notorious terrorist leaders and neutralised several commanders. The troops acted on an intelligence report that confirmed that the terrorists had converged at a concealed location in Tumfa Village, Shinkafi Local Government Area, with the intention to coordinate attacks and criminal activities targeting innocent communities in the state. The Air Component launched a precision airstrike on the identified terrorist hideout that successfully destroyed the structure, which served as the terrorists’ meeting point. The governor further reiterates Zamfara State Government’s commitment to ongoing support and logistics for the military and other security agencies operating in the state.

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Old Students Association rejects alleged commercialisation of Unity School land ‎

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Old Students Association rejects alleged commercialisation of Unity School land



‎By Ifeoma Ikem



‎The Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA) has rejected the alleged commercialisation of any unity schools land under the Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) initiative.

‎The association made its displeasure known during their awareness walk to protest the concession of the 33 hectares of land belonging to Federal Government College (FGC) Kano yesterday in Lagos.

‎The members were carrying placards, some of which read “PPP: Save the Future”, “Protect Unity Schools”, “PPP must serve Education not land conversion” and “Schools are not for Real Estate”.

‎President-General of the Unity Schools Old Students Association USOSA Michael Magaji says Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) was designed to improve public institutions, and not strip them of assets or reduce their land.

‎Over 60 Unity schools members were drawn from across the nation for the awareness walk to protest against the alleged sale of the school lands.

‎ The P-G said the association was advocating for a sustainable funding model that would preserve educational assets while improving infrastructure, manpower and learning conditions.

‎“Our coming together is to restore the lost glory of Unity Schools and strengthen Nigeria’s education system. Unity schools are nation-building institutions that have produced leaders across various sectors.

‎ “Unity Schools were not just about education, they were about integration built not by spectators but by active citizens that believe in one nation.

‎ “ The alumni support PPP but oppose the sale of educational assets. Unity never happens by chance but designed, nurtured and protected,’’ he added.

‎He added that the awareness walk brought about by the alumni across the nation was also to have a stronger network to revive the vision of the Unity Schools.

‎Mr Humphrey Nwafor, Lagos Chapter President, Federal Government College, Kano Old Students Association said that they are pushing back against the alleged commercialisation of Unity School lands.

‎Nwafor pointed out that the 33 hectares of land belonging to FGC Kano was concessioned without adequate consultation with stakeholders.

‎“We are saying there is a better option. Instead of selling our lands and assets, we would rather fund the schools ourselves.

‎“If the government says it does not have enough money to run the schools, the old students can provide support without taking one inch of the land,” he said.

‎According to him, the concession arrangement involving the school’s land will undermine the future of unity schools, which were established in the first place to promote national integration.

‎“These schools were established to unite Nigerians from different ethnic and religious backgrounds and we are appealing to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that public educational assets are protected,” he added.

‎He called on the Federal Government to leverage alumni networks in addressing funding challenges confronting unity schools.

‎“We are in solution mode and impact mode and we believe alumni associations should be integrated into the process of repositioning these schools.

‎“We recently met with officials of the Federal Ministry of Education and discussions are ongoing toward finding mutually beneficial solutions,” he said.

‎Mr Alex Akindumila, President of FGC Idoani Alumni Association said the concession controversy was a national test of how public assets and educational institutions are being managed.

‎He said that they are concerned that reducing lands allocated to unity schools could limit future expansion, agricultural projects, sports facilities, technical workshops and staff accommodation.

‎“The lands allocated to unity schools were deliberate and visionary.“They were designed to ensure that the schools remain self-sustaining and adaptable to future needs.

‎According to him, when you shrink the land of a unity school, you do not just reduce space, but reduce possibility , reduce ability to run agricultural programs that can feed students and teach enterprise, even the space required for sports facilities that build discipline, health and national pride.

‎Also, Mrs Ifeoma Okeke, an alumna of FGC Nsukka, called for transparency, due process and stakeholder engagement in any PPP arrangement involving educational institutions.

‎She said PPP agreements should align with the public purpose of the schools and not diminish their long-term capacity.

‎“There must be transparency, competitiveness and proper stakeholder engagement in any concession process involving public educational assets,” she said.

 

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