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LAGOS BEGINS URBAN REGENERATION OF IKOYI, V.I, IKEJA G.R.A …Unveils Three Road Printers, 42 Other Construction Equipment

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The Lagos State Government on Wednesday commenced the urban regeneration of Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ikeja G.R.A, with the unveiling of 45 new road construction equipment and commissioning of newly interlocked road in Lekki.

The equipment, including three road printers and three giant wheel leaders, were unveiled after a public demonstration to the media and government functionaries to complete the construction of interlocked road in Joseph Hotounu Street, Lekki.

Others are five driving rollers, 18 hand operating rollers, one excavator, one paver, six tractors, three wheel loaders, one chip sealer, one milling machine, one hiab, one sweeper machine and one synchronous chip sealer.

Speaking at the unveiling, the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, said the new equipment were procured in line with efforts to reposition the Lagos State Public Works Corporation for the urban regeneration programme aimed at addressing environmental and infrastructural challenges in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Ikeja G.R.A.

The Governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye, said the equipment would be immediately deployed across the State for the urban renewal initiative, saying that they would go a long way in ensuring the regeneration of the entire Lagos landscape.

“We are here to commission these machines, equipment and gadgets and to state that these range of products would be deployed immediately to the urban regeneration of Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Ikeja and they are being put in place today to further upgrade the activities of the Lagos State Public Works Corporation so that from their three centres in Badagry, Ojodu and Imota, they can take care of the rest of Lagos State.

“We are at this site to see physically the demonstration of the capability and capacity of the equipment. I want to state emphatically that this development is a sign of the government’s commitment to the regeneration and renewal of the entire Lagos State landscape.

“The Public Works Corporation has three regional centres in Badagry, Ojodu and Imota of which the various machines would be deployed to the various areas. Essentially, this point is to regenerate V.I, Ikoyi and Ikeja urban centres and it is an all-inclusive developmental process,” he said.

Also speaking, Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello said the paving stone machines and road printers were acquired to basically construct roads that would last longer considering the state of the Lagos environment being waterlogged.

“We carefully thought about it before we even embarked on it. It was planned long time ago for the equipment to be acquired and having been acquired, they will be deployed immediately for road construction.

“One of the problems we have in Lagos is road tarring because the water table in Lagos is very high and it does not allow most of our roads to last and so we needed equipment to make our roads longer and part of it was to acquire the equipment which have just been tested.

“So, now we will be using paving stones mostly and they will last longer particularly in a terrain like Lagos and that is what we have seen today,” Bello said.

While giving practical demonstration of the workings of the equipment, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Works and Chief Executive Officer, Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Engr Temidayo Erinle said the road printer has the capacity to pave road between six and eight metres faster and reduce man-hours.

“The road printer can make road paving of 400 to 600metres square in a one-day working shift of eight hours. The road printer makes road construction faster, easier and cheaper,” Erinle said.

While revealing that the State Government was in the process of further procuring interlocking making machines, Erinle urged residents to take proper care of the road just unveiled and desist from indulging in activities that could damage it.

Responding on behalf of the residents of Joseph Hotounu Street, Lekki, Mrs Ronke Giwa thanked the State Government for fixing the road from its dilapidated state, saying the development had removed their decades of sufferings.

“Before the construction of this road, our cars were getting spoilt; we dread the rains and it had been on for decades so I like to thank Governor Ambode and the State Government for giving us this road,” she said.

SIGNED

HABIB ARUNA

CHIEF PRESS SECRETARY

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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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