Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Sola Ojewusi  On a cold, drizzly November evening at Anfield, kindness arrived without a press conference—and left with a roar that travelled far beyond Merseyside. Maria Thompson had finished her shift, the kind she had done quietly for 14 years: trimming Anfield’s hallowed turf, marking lines with a craftsman’s pride, arriving before dawn and leaving long after the last boot had gone quiet. At 48, a widow since 2019 and a single mother of two, Maria was used to being unseen. Groundskeepers rarely feature on matchday posters. Then she noticed a black Range Rover limping into the staff car…

By  Daniel Alabrah  Gov Diri Directs Autopsy On Deputy’s Death Former President of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, has said the death of the deputy governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, was a sad moment for all Bayelsans. Dr. Jonathan stated this on Saturday during a condolence visit to Governor Douye Diri and the Ewhrudjakpo family in Government House, Yenagoa. The former president recalled how Ewhrudjakpo, who represented the governor at his foundation’s democracy dialogue programme in Benin city, Edo State, mobilised the state assembly and executive council members for the event. “For me, he was somebody my foundation and…

By Peter Omopo Troops have successfully repelled an attempted assault by fighters of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) on a Forward Operating Base (FOB) in Mairari, Borno State, neutralising two vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices (VBIEDs) during the encounter. Security sources disclosed on Saturday that the insurgents launched the attack in the early hours of Friday but were decisively countered by troops, resulting in heavy casualties among the attackers. Several ISWAP fighters were reportedly killed, while others sustained varying degrees of injuries. The sources said a follow-up exploitation operation was conducted in the area by troops of Sector 3…

By Peter Omopo The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has reiterated that he has no regrets over his decision to support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the 2023 presidential election, saying his stance was based on conviction, principle and a belief in equity. Wike spoke on Saturday during an event organised to mark his 58th birthday, where he said his political support for Tinubu remained consistent before, during and after the election. He stressed that he never concealed his position, noting that his actions were guided by character and integrity. The former Rivers State governor…

By Peter Omopo Senior figures of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Saturday held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, amid deepening internal crises within the opposition party. The delegation, led by a factional PDP chairman, Alhaji Taminu Turaki, arrived at Obasanjo’s residence located within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library at about 11:38 a.m. Following their arrival, the party leaders went into a private meeting with the former president. As of the time of filing this report, details of the deliberations had not been made public, and the exact purpose of the visit could…

By Peter Omopo A cargo train derailed on Thursday along the Ibadan–Abeokuta railway crossing at Omi Adio, Ibadan, causing major disruption to movement in the area and leaving commuters stranded. The incident resulted in heavy traffic congestion as vehicles and pedestrians were unable to cross the affected section of the rail line for several hours. Eyewitnesses said security operatives and traffic officials were promptly deployed to the scene to manage the situation and ease congestion. They added that no casualties were recorded in the derailment. As of the time of filing this report, the Nigerian Railway Authority had yet to…

By Peter Omopo The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has dismissed claims by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), that his bail was revoked because of his attendance at a political gathering in Kebbi State. The anti-graft agency said Malami was detained after failing to meet the conditions attached to the administrative bail granted to him following his interrogation on November 28, 2025. In a statement issued on Saturday by the EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, the commission explained that Malami was offered provisional administrative bail pending the conclusion of investigations and possible…

By Peter Omopo The Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on Friday inaugurated 11 multi-billion-naira projects at the Federal University of Health Sciences, Ila-Orangun (FUHSI), Osun State, as part of the Federal Government’s drive to strengthen medical education and healthcare delivery in Nigeria. The inauguration ceremony was attended by former Osun State Governor, Chief Adebisi Akande; the Osun State Commissioner for Education, Dipo Eluwole; the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Oyedokun; and the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, among other dignitaries. Speaking at the event, Alausa said the newly completed facilities would significantly enhance the quality of medical training,…

Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has described his late deputy, Senator Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, as a friend with whom he had an outstanding relationship and was never seen or treated as a subordinate. A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted Senator Diri as stating this on Friday night when he led a delegation comprising state legislators and top government officials on a visit to Mrs. Beatrice Ewhrudjakpo and his late deputy’s family at the official residence in Government House, Yenagoa. The Bayelsa governor expressed shock at the sudden passing of his deputy on December 11, saying…

By Olugbolahan Kuku December 11, 2025, the Governor of Lagos; Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu hosted the top echelon of the Corporate, Civil and Security groups in Lagos to the most important gathering on Security in Lagos State. It was the 19th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security with the Governor. Over the years, this event has become an entrenched culture in Lagos State and successive Governments have taken it seriously, as it is the most comprehensive conference on Security in Lagos State. The private sector has been deeply integrated into the funding and planning of security in Lagos, and the collaborative…