Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a 30-year-old Brazilian national, Ms Ingrid Benevides, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, with 30.09 kilograms of heroin concealed in factory-sealed coffee packs valued at over ₦3 billion on the street. The suspect, identified as a private security officer in Brazil, was intercepted on Friday, January 23, 2026, upon her arrival in Abuja aboard Qatar Airways flight QR1431, following intelligence-led surveillance. In a statement issued on Sunday, NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, said a search of Benevides’ two checked-in bags uncovered 21 factory-sealed packs of Brazilian…

By Peter Omopo The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has instituted a lawsuit against the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, and the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET) over an alleged failure to account for ₦128 billion in public funds earmarked for the power sector. In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the suit—marked FHC/ABJ/CS/143/2026—was filed last Friday at the Federal High Court in Abuja. The action follows allegations contained in a report by the Auditor-General of the Federation published on September 9, 2025. SERAP alleged that the missing or diverted funds…

By Peter Omopo The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive, equitable and future-ready education system, with Nigerian youths positioned as key partners in transforming the nation’s learning landscape. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Press, Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade, to mark the 2026 International Day of Education. According to the statement, the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, spoke at the International Day of Education celebration held in Abuja, themed “The Power of Youth in Co-creating Education.” He described education as the foundation of civilisation,…

By Peter Omopo No fewer than 22 members of the Kano State House of Assembly, including Speaker Jibril Ismail Falgore, have resigned their membership of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) alongside Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf. The list of the affected lawmakers was released on Saturday evening by the Assembly’s Chief Press Secretary, Kamaluddeen Sani Shawai, who confirmed that the House had verified and authenticated the resignations. According to the statement, those who exited the NNPP with the governor include the Speaker, Jibril Ismail Falgore; Deputy Speaker, Muhammad Bello Butu Butu; Majority Leader, Lawan Hussain; Deputy Majority Leader, Garba Shehu…

By Peter Omopo Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has formally applied for permission to stand in the forthcoming Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election, a move that could reopen his path to Westminster and potentially position him for a future Labour leadership challenge. Burnham confirmed his intention on Saturday, submitting his application to Labour’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) just before the 5pm deadline and sharing his letter publicly on social media. As a directly elected mayor, he requires NEC approval before he can seek selection as a Labour parliamentary candidate. A decision is expected on Sunday. The by-election was triggered…

By Peter Omopo Former United States President Donald Trump has praised British soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, describing them as “among the greatest warriors of all time,” following widespread criticism of his earlier comments that appeared to downplay the role of Nato allies in the conflict. Trump’s initial remarks, made during a Fox News interview on Thursday, triggered anger among veterans, politicians and families of fallen soldiers after he suggested that allied forces avoided front-line combat in Afghanistan. He also questioned whether Nato members would support the United States “if we ever needed them.” The comments drew strong condemnation from…

By Peter Omopo President Bola Tinubu’s Special Assistant on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, has clarified that no beneficiary of the Nigeria Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has reached the repayment stage, urging Nigerians to ignore reports suggesting otherwise. Dada made the clarification on Saturday via his official X (formerly Twitter) account, stating that repayment of the student loans will only begin after a two-year moratorium following the completion of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) programme. According to him, the loan scheme will complete two years in March 2026 from the date the first applications were submitted, and as such, none…

By Peter Omopo The Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Owan, has urged Nigeria to urgently cut its dependence on imports and harness its large population for productive industrial activity, warning that population size alone does not translate into economic growth. Owan made the call on Saturday while speaking at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) Lagos Province 35 Economic Summit, where he emphasised that the success of the Federal Government’s Nigeria-First policy depends on policy predictability, coordinated execution, and the strategic use of public procurement to boost local manufacturing. The Nigeria-First policy, announced by President Bola Tinubu…

By Peter Omopo A powerful storm has caused widespread damage across parts of Devon and Cornwall, washing away sections of a historic pier and crippling rail services after a key sea wall collapsed. Part of Teignmouth Grand Pier was destroyed overnight as Storm Ingrid lashed the south-west coast with violent waves and strong winds. Teignmouth Mayor, Cate Williams, said the town had “taken a real battering,” describing the waves as “just wild” as they tore through the pier, which dates back to 1867. “It’s sad to see part of the pier missing,” Williams said, noting that the structure had survived…

By Peter Omopo Nollywood actress and filmmaker Bimbo Ademoye has raised concerns over an alleged copyright infringement that has affected the monetisation of her YouTube film, Where Love Lives. Ademoye disclosed that the movie was demonetised after an individual reportedly claimed ownership of a song featured in the film. She alleged that the same individual later uploaded the song to Spotify and other digital streaming platforms, presenting himself as the original composer. The film, released in December 2025, has gained widespread attention online, amassing more than 18 million views on YouTube. Reacting to the development in a post on Instagram,…