Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been conferred with the prestigious chieftaincy title ‘Dike Si Mba Anambra’ by traditional rulers representing all 179 communities in Anambra State. The honour was bestowed on the President on Thursday at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka by the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Ogalagidi, Eze Iweka III), during a ceremony held as part of Tinubu’s one-day working visit to the state. President Tinubu was in Anambra to commission a series of legacy projects completed by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration. Speaking during the conferment, Igwe…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria, the operators of DStv and GOtv, challenging the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to intervene in its recent subscription price hikes. Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho described the suit as an abuse of court process, noting that a similar case on the same subject matter is already pending before the Lagos Division of the court. MultiChoice had sought a legal interpretation on whether the FCCPC, under Section 17(a) of its Act, could lawfully restrain the company…

By Peter Omopo  A team of Computer Science students from Caleb University has clinched the top prize at the Bells University of Technology Hackathon Competition with their innovative AI-powered application, Valor, designed to detect the ripeness of mangoes. The winning software, which leverages computer vision and deep learning, was hailed for its precision in classifying mangoes as ripe or spoiled, addressing a long-standing challenge in agricultural produce assessment. Dubbed the “Smart, Bold, Brainy, Savvy, Mango Master,” Valor was developed to reduce food waste and improve efficiency in the fruit supply chain. In a statement released Thursday, the team explained that…

By Peter Omopo  The Imo State Police Command has taken disciplinary action against three officers involved in the assault of a road user along the Owerri-Aba Expressway, demoting one and reprimanding two others. Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye, in a statement issued Wednesday night, confirmed that Sergeant Anayo Ekezie had been demoted to the rank of Corporal for using a smoke gunner to assault a traveller during a stop-and-search operation. The incident, which occurred along the busy Owerri-Aba highway, sparked public outrage after a video showing the assault went viral on social media. According to Okoye, two other officers—Inspector Ofem…

By Peter Omopo  Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against the emergence of a one-party state in Nigeria through political manipulation, warning that such a development could threaten the country’s fragile democracy. Jonathan issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a memorial lecture in honour of the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark. He noted that while some countries have successfully implemented a one-party system, such as Tanzania under Julius Nyerere, those arrangements were deliberately planned to suit their unique socio-political realities—not imposed through subversive tactics. “A one-party state may not be inherently evil.…

By Peter Omopo  In a visit to Terra Kulture in Lagos, the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, praised the institution for its significant contributions to cultural development, youth empowerment, and economic growth. The visit, which took place on Monday, was part of a series of engagements leading up to his fifth coronation anniversary, set for June 7, 2025. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the monarch noted that the visit was aimed at recognizing institutions that align with Iruland’s development vision, known as #LeGIT (Let’s Grow Iru Together). Oba Lawal emphasized that the #LeGIT agenda…

By Peter Omopo  Ayodeji Oyekunle, a scholar on gender politics and democratic governance, has emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy remains incomplete without equal representation of women in decision-making positions. She made the statement in her paper titled “Women’s Political Participation and Representation in State Legislatures, Southwest, Nigeria”, which was made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday. Oyekunle argued that for Nigeria to achieve true democratic development, women’s political participation should not be seen as an optional addition but as a crucial foundation for good governance. She highlighted that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, one of the significant contradictions in…

By Peter Omopo  The Media and Publicity Office of the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaye, has issued a statement denying allegations linking the Alaafin to the death of Chief Lukman Ojora Arounfale, a Yoruba monarch based in the United States. Arounfale, known as the Baba Oba of Oyotunji African Village in South Carolina, reportedly passed away after an alleged assault, which some reports claimed was ordered during a visit to the Alaafin’s palace. Speculation surrounding the incident suggested that the assault might have been connected to a rift between the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye…

By Peter Omopo  The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has inaugurated several significant development projects in Bayelsa State, including a renovated Cottage Hospital, Community Secondary School, and a free medical outreach aimed at improving healthcare and education in the Niger Delta region. The initiatives, built by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in collaboration with the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) office of the First Lady, are part of efforts to enhance essential services in the region. At a ceremony held in Otuasega community, Ogbia Local Government Area, Senator Tinubu, alongside key dignitaries including the Minister of Regional Development,…

By Peter Omopo  An officer and a soldier of the Nigerian Army were killed in the early hours of Wednesday during a fierce battle with Boko Haram insurgents in Izge community, Gwoza Local Government Area of Borno State. The Emir of Gwoza, Alhaji Mohammed Shehu Timta, confirmed the incident in an interview with Channels Television, revealing that the terrorists stormed the farming settlement around 1 a.m., firing sporadically in a surprise midnight raid. Troops of the Nigerian Armed Forces, supported by members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, local hunters, and vigilante groups, responded swiftly and repelled the attackers after…