Some members of the rice farmers’ associations have blamed the continuous hike in the price of the product in Nigeria on the activities of unscrupulous farmers and middlemen in the sector, as reported by Vanguard.

The rice farmers’ leaders made this known in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos yesterday.

Speaking on the issue, the vice-chairman of All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, Mr Sakin Agbayewa, said the consistent fluctuations in the price of rice could be linked to human manipulations, in spite of the government’s efforts.

“As regards the high price of rice, I think we are taking one step forward and five steps backwards.

“A few months ago, the federal government came out with a waiver, giving some companies a small waiver to import rice into the country to crush the price. And while that was on, did they mobilise the local farmers? That is where the issue lies.

“Although the federal government empowered a few farmers with a 75 per cent reduction on the cost of production, others were given fertilisers for free.

“Now, the question is this. Those local farmers who were empowered, did they really cultivate anything?

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“The main issue is that the rice price hike can be linked to a cartel that wants to frustrate the government’s effort,” Agbayewa said.

According to him, while the waiver was in effect, they imported rice into the country, and the price decreased. However, during this period, they were also warehousing the rice.

“Now that the importation waiver is over, the cartel is creating artificial scarcity.

“Also, some of the farmers who cultivate local rice—it’s not that we do not produce enough, but some farmers only capitalise on the shortage in the system.

“And with the shortage, they are now repacking local rice in foreign bags for selfish reasons. They do this to sell at a high cost because they know Nigerians have a high taste for foreign things.

“There is a high level of insincerity and dishonesty among our people. Some unscrupulous farmers, middlemen, and even retailers can be blamed for the current hike,” he said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter, Mr Raphael Hunsa, called on the government to relate with the real farmers for the price of rice to drop.

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“The price of rice will continue to go up if the government fails to support local rice farmers.

“The price will go higher and higher because cultivation of local rice is quite different from importing rice.

“And what we can do to resolve the issue of consistent price hikes in rice is to support the rice farmers in the right way.

“Though government is trying, and we don’t dispute that, but they should let their interventions get to the right hands.

“They should invite local rice farmers to a roundtable for the formulation of the right policies and programmes for the sector.

“So, we know our problem, they should ask us and we will tender our problem. It is now left for the government to resolve the problem through the normal channel. And with that, the price of rice will come down,” Hunsa said.

He also urged local rice farmers not to sell off the interventions provided by the government, but should utilise them for the growth of the sector.

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“We will also use this opportunity to tell our farmers that any input being given to them should not be sold.

“They should not sell it out. They were given the input for continuity.

“The continuity is what government is after. So let the government continue to try their best to help farmers and not relent,” the RIFAN boss said.

On his part, a rice dealer at Oja Oba Market in Agege area of the state, Mr Mustafa Aliu, said the price of rice rose a few weeks back due to the expiration of the waiver on rice imports.

“The price of rice is currently between N70,000 and N80,000 for a 50 kg bag. We can only sell it the way we bought it.

“There is no foreign rice among my products. I sell only local rice, and it’s clean and healthy,” Aliu said.

Also, another trader, at Iddo area of the state, Mr Temitayo Hakeem, said, “With the high demand for foreign rice, we will continue to witness this rise in the price of rice.

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“There are bags of rice that still sell as high as N145,000 or N150,000, depending on the choice of the consumer,” Hakeem said.

NAN reports that a 50 kg bag of local rice currently sells between N65,000 and N80,000, depending on the species.

The same quantity sold for between N45,000 and N55,000 two months ago.

Miss Comfort Emmanson, the individual at the center of a controversy involving the crew of Ibom Air, has shared her account of the incident. In a post on her Instagram account, @soft_commy, Emmanson alleged that a flight attendant, identified as Julian Edwards, forcibly removed her frontal wig, cut her gold jewelry, and damaged her mobile phones.

The conflict reportedly commenced when Emmanson struggled to switch off her phone during the pre-flight checks, escalating into a physical altercation upon landing in Lagos.

Emmanson recounted that the flight attendant verbally insulted her, referring to her as a prostitute, obstructed her from disembarking, and subsequently attacked her, resulting in physical injuries and significant humiliation.

She said, “…I want to first appreciate God Almighty and everyone that stood by me and fought for me when I was in prison. When I came out the love and support I saw, I was not expecting it for a commoner like me. I say God bless you all.

“So, on August 10, I boarded a flight from Uyo to Lagos and the normal procedure was on. The lady Juliana was telling everyone to switch off their phones. When she came to me, I was struggling with my phone and she said I should put off my phone.

“I showed her that one of the phone was bad. The button was bad and she said I can turn it off without the power button. I had two phones and so the man sitting beside me helped me to turn off the other one.

“While she was talking, she said I should go to my settings and to general…I pleaded with her to take the phone off it but she refused saying ‘children nowadays…’

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“I asked her to spell general for me but the way she looked at me and the pressure from her, so, I turned to the man who switched off the first one and begged him to help. The man spelt general and I went back to her but she looked at me with bad eye.

“So, I turned to the man again and he helped me switch the second one off. I put both phones where they are supposed to be.

“But before she left, she said, ‘you will see’. I didn’t take it to heart since I have already switched my phones off.

“So, when we arrived in Lagos, I rushed to the bathroom to pee. My seat was at the back. There was someone inside already and so I had to wait for the person to come out.

“After the person left, I got in, peed and when I was done, I went out of the bathroom. I didn’t stay that long inside because it’s a small place and very discomforting. So, I went out and carried my things to leave but she blocked my way.

“I kept telling her to leave the road for me to go as everyone had left the aircraft but she stood there looking at me with a bad eye (condescendingly).

“That’s when I brought out my phone and did that short video to show how she was blocking my exit. When I brought out my phone, she then turned around showing me her back.

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“Then, she noticed I was recording her and she pushed me inside, dragged my frontal out, cut my gold chain in the process of tearing my cloth and also made my phones fall to the ground and break.

“I was in pain, she inflicted so much pain on me. Anyone who has fixed a frontal knows how painful it is then imagine someone dragging it out forcefully. It was all these pains she caused me that made me poke her in the face, asking her why she did that to me?

“God knows I wouldn’t poke an elderly woman, old enough to be my mother, for nothing. It’s the pain she inflicted on me and calling me a prostitute that’s why I was asking her why she did that.

“Before I knew it, all those guys had come in and surrounded me. They were dragging me and the lady Juliana was the one who dragged my pin under (bodycon top). The way she dragged the pin under also wounded me inside. I was the only one there surrounded by all of them and I was struggling to help myself.

“They were dragging me and some of them wanted to touch me. So, I was trying to cover myself and also defending myself. That was what they recorded and put out there.

“I was surprised, I never expected that. It was so much for one person to bear. I was very angry and kept asking them why they would do that to me? Still they made video of me and put it out there.

“The trauma is just too much. I cannot even go out there again. My body is out there. Some people have even used it to make stickers.

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“Right now, I don’t know how I will be going for work interview. I am into real estate. Imagine going to sell or advertise a property to a client and they will be looking at my breast. Imagine what my unborn kids or the man that will marry will say about my reputation. I haven’t come out to say my part of the story because I was still on treatment.

“I never expected that the phone situation will come out this way. People are now making mockery of me, sending me messages that my body is outside.

“Those who know me can attest that I am not really a social media person. I am happy I am strong enough to talk now. I am not a troublesome person; I am not a nuisance. I never refused to switch off my phone,” she lamented.

Ex-presidential aide, Reno Omokri, has sparked considerable backlash from the Obidient Movement due to a provocative statement he made on the social media platform X.

In his post, he accused Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra State, of starting each day by scouring Google for negative news about Nigeria.

According to Omokri, Obi’s mornings involve a relentless search for reports of calamity within the nation. He claims that if Obi fails to uncover any fresh misfortunes, he resorts to utilizing ChatGPT, asking it to generate posts highlighting adverse events affecting Nigeria.

He suggested that Obi has developed a somewhat alarming habit of “praying for disaster” to strike the country he professes to care for.

Omokri criticised Obi’s political strategy, arguing that the former governor lacks a substantial record of achievements during his tenure in office.

He pointed out the absence of significant infrastructure developments, such as schools or roads, and contended that Obi does not offer a positive vision for the future.

His post on X:

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“Peter Obi wakes up each morning and searches Google for bad news about Nigeria.  If he can’t find fresh calamities, he asks ChatGPT to give him a post on something negative about Nigeria. The man literally prays for disaster to befall our beloved nation. He knows he can’t run on his record in office, because he has very little. No schools built. Hardly any roads or other infrastructure. His campaign strategy is not to tell Nigerians what he will do, but to just wait for evil so he can amplify it. And if no enrol occurs, then he will make it up!”

Reactions from Obidients on X platform attacking Reno Omokri below:

@Youthinprocess

Rather than focusing on personal attacks, invest that energy in voter education—raising awareness on the necessity of voting, the process of voting correctly, and protecting the ballot. Our goal should be a democracy where genuine majority choice stands, free from tribal or religious bias, allowing governance to flourish because citizens believe and have hope in it.

@VictorEnemz

You’re indeed following in his footsteps and you’re doing very well sir.

@timidfamily

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You and yr family live and work overseas, yet you are constantly talking trash and endorsing the president and APC leadership.yr relatives don’t find it funny in Naija either,you’re so focused on getting an appointment that you forget that people are the ones who live in Nigeria.

@sadeeqali3

Nobody knows tomorrow sir, you did same thing to Tinubu yet he becomes president and you’re now literally licking his boots.

@Akoma08583785

The way you were praying for disaster during Buhari regime, again you thought Tinubu will be a walk away for Atiku but God pass you, you have to swallow you ego and today you are one of Tinubu’s shoe shiners

@japhet_ja

I know deep down you are thankful to Mr. Peter Obi, because he is the reason why you have this job. Your pay master knows who he is and is afraid of him (Obi), that’s why they keep paying you to tarnish his image.

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@JoshuateachesFx

Reno Omokrin I perceive that you’re possessed with the spirit of unforgiveness, acrimony, malice and many evil spirits. I thought you profess to be a Christian. These your steps are they in alignment with Jesus steps?

@AdakumDonald

Even me, I’m from bokkos everyday if I wake I opened my WhatsApp to check wether they ve kill people in my town APC only serve us bad news, u think we like bad news? Before we don’t care but in recent times we don’t have choice

@murishenko85

Dis is no longer politics..but pure beef nd enveyness..am vry sure sometimes u literally wished u av ½ of d integrity dat Peter Obi has..bcos I find it so hard 2understand wht exactly is d nature of ur problem. but I later realized u av 2do ur job,u need dat validation 4rm APC

@OWEDEPAUL

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Even engagement for you on this obi matter have dropped,people don’t take you serious again

@onyekwuluj35041

Your hatred and envy of Peter Obi has not really favoured you Abi? Tinubu simply ignored you,knowing you’re unreliable!

@mullerani9

And you Reno you post are about peter obi I am trying to understand why are you obsessed with the name Peter obi?

@OsoKingsley

So you can’t see anything to talk about the girl that was amputated because the recklessness of dangote and his cohort, your primary interest is just Peter Obi, It won’t be well with you Reno oloshi.

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@edidiong_u5834

Mr T-pain should consider you and give you work ooo. You have try your best but your best isn’t working.

Bishop David Oyedepo, the prominent founder of the Living Faith Church, has expressed strong opposition to the recent demands made by certain Muslim groups regarding the wearing of the hijab by female students in schools operated by his church.

During a passionate sermon delivered to his congregation, Oyedepo drew a vivid analogy, suggesting that these demands were akin to “a tenant dictating to a landlord.”
He firmly argued that such requests overstep reasonable boundaries and undermine the foundational values of these mission-owned institutions.

In his address, Oyedepo underscored the vital importance of maintaining the core principles of mission schools, emphasizing that they were established with a specific ethos and mission in mind.

Rev. Isaac Omolehin, a prominent clergyman from Kwara State, has raised significant concerns regarding the current state of the Nigerian church, particularly in relation to the alarming financial disparities observed within it.

During a recent gathering with fellow pastors, he referenced a striking report published by the World Council of Churches, which sheds light on the unsettling contrast between the considerable personal wealth amassed by some pastors and the often struggling financial situations of their congregations.

In his address, Rev. Omolehin pointed out that out of the ten wealthiest pastors globally, an astonishing five hail from Nigeria. This statistic not only reflects the lucrative nature of religious leadership in the country but also raises poignant questions about the priorities and responsibilities of these pastors towards their flocks. He urged his fellow clergy to reflect on this issue, emphasizing the importance of aligning their wealth with the needs and welfare of their congregations, many of whom face economic hardships. The call for accountability and transparency in church finances echoed throughout the meeting, highlighting the urgent need for a more equitable distribution of resources within the church community.

“Is it not scary that the World Council of Churches released papers about the state of the Nigerian church — that out of the 10 richest pastors in the world, five of them are Nigerians, but out of the 10 richest churches in the world, there’s no Nigerian church?” Rev. Omoleyin said in his message to pastors. “It’s worrisome, it calls for concern.”

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The clergyman’s remarks come amid ongoing debates about accountability, transparency, and the role of wealth in ministry across Nigeria’s religious landscape.

The former Governor of Sokoto State and currently serving Senator, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has provided insights regarding his recent engagement with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He emphasised that neither any agency nor political entity has the capability to intimidate him.

Speaking in Sokoto upon his return from the EFCC’s custody—characterizing the experience as a “brief visit”—Tambuwal indicated that he had been invited by the anti-graft agency and had willingly presented himself at their office on August 6.

He reported that following initial rounds of questioning, he was permitted to return home but was subsequently instructed to return on August 10 and 11 for further inquiries. During the follow-up visit, after several hours of questioning, Tambuwal requested to leave once more.

However, EFCC officials stipulated that he must secure two sureties—specifically, directors within the Federal Civil Service, accompanied by letters of introduction from their respective employers—prior to being granted his release.

“I told them to go back and tell the chairman of the EFCC that I am a former Speaker of the House of Representatives with an unblemished record, a two-term Governor of Sokoto State, a serving Senator, and a Commander of the Order of the Niger. I should be allowed to go on self-recognition,” Tambuwal said.

He stated that despite appeals from his legal team, which included three Senior Advocates of Nigeria, the EFCC operatives refused to vary the bail conditions.

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As a result, he was detained overnight before being released the following morning after meeting the bail terms.

Tambuwal questioned the timing of the EFCC’s actions, linking them to a broader political plot.

“Why now?” he queried, hinting that the current Sokoto State administration had earlier set up what he described as a “kangaroo commission of inquiry” to probe his tenure, which he believed was politically motivated.

He argued that these events were part of efforts to discredit him and silence dissenting voices critical of the federal government under President Bola Tinubu.

“In Nigeria today, there are two lines: those with Bola Tinubu and his government, and those with the people of Nigeria. We chose to stand with the people,” he declared.

Tambuwal further criticized the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), referencing a common political cliché: “Once you join the APC, whatever your sins, they are forgiven.”

He rejected any notion of political realignment, vowing to remain steadfast with the coalition for national rescue.

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“I cannot be intimidated. I cannot be blackmailed. No one can tarnish my record,” he said.

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has encouraged his supporters to lend their support to the candidates of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the upcoming by-elections scheduled to occur in various states across the country.

Obi emphasised that his supporters should refrain from voting for the Labour Party, as it currently lacks recognized candidates by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) due to ongoing internal disputes.

This announcement was made via a post on his X handle on Thursday.

According to reports from DAILY POST, the elections are set to take place on August 16, 2025, across 16 states, with two senatorial, five Federal House of Representatives, and nine State Assembly seats available for election.

However, Obi advised his supporters, saying, “Kindly note that because the Labour Party has no recognised candidates by INEC due to the internal crisis.

“I humbly urge every member of Obidient and COPDEM families to go out and vote for the coalition political party, African Democratic Congress (ADC), in their respective states.”