Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  By Ismaeel Uthman, Bola Bamigbola, and Imoleayo Oyedeyi Saturday, July 12, 2025 A growing wave of political uncertainty has gripped both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State following strong indications that Governor Ademola Adeleke may be planning to defect from the PDP to the ruling APC. Multiple sources within Adeleke’s inner circle, including cabinet members and political aides, confirmed to Saturday PUNCH that the governor had advanced discussions with key APC figures and was weighing a formal defection, though no official date has been set. The rumours, which began…

By Peter Omopo  Saturday, July 12, 2025 – At least 12 Nigerian states, including Lagos, Benue, and Kaduna, failed to meet their first quarter (Q1) revenue targets for 2025 despite collectively spending over N117 billion on debt servicing within the same period, a Saturday PUNCH investigation has revealed. This disclosure is based on an analysis of Q1 2025 Budget Implementation Reports sourced from state government websites and Open Nigerian States, a transparency platform backed by BudgIT for public finance data. The affected states are Abia, Adamawa, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Ekiti, Kaduna, Katsina, Kebbi, Lagos, Ondo, and Taraba. Reports for the…

By Peter Omopo  Lagos, July 12, 2025 — Vehicular and pedestrian movements came to a standstill Saturday morning at the Berger axis of Lagos as security operatives blocked major entry routes into the city ahead of the local government elections. A PUNCH correspondent monitoring the situation reported that by 7:32 a.m., dozens of commuters were left stranded, with several vehicles turned back at the usually bustling intersection. A combined team of Nigeria Police officers and Federal Road Safety Corps personnel enforced the restriction, while military operatives were also seen patrolling the area to ensure compliance. The barricade led to long…

July 8, 2025 – Legendary Nigerian music icon, Innocent Ujah Idibia, popularly known as 2BABA, has officially announced a new chapter in his illustrious career with the unveiling of a new management team under the banner of A Guy Entertainment. The announcement marks a strategic move aimed at redefining and amplifying the 2BABA brand globally, with a renewed focus not only on his rich musical legacy but also on untapped possibilities in today’s evolving African entertainment scene. With a career spanning over three decades, 2BABA has not only helped define the Afro-pop genre but also inspired countless artists across Africa…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 11, 2025 — Former Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, has unveiled a newly completed N70 million halfway home in Abuja, designed to provide transitional support for vulnerable young adults. The project, spearheaded by her non-profit organisation, DashMe Foundation, is aimed at bridging the gap between orphanage life and independent adulthood for those aged 18 to 25. Speaking during the foundation’s fourth anniversary on Friday, Adeosun described the facility—constructed for the Sought After Women and Children Foundation—as a major milestone in efforts to restore dignity and opportunity to Nigeria’s most disadvantaged populations. “This halfway home…

By Peter Omopo  Abeokuta, July 11, 2025 — A Professor of Organic Chemistry at Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Prof. Raphael Mordi, has called on the government at all levels to prioritise effective waste management as a key strategy for improving public health and unlocking economic opportunities. Delivering the university’s third inaugural lecture on Friday, titled “A Journey into the Chemistry of Waste, Wealth, and Health,” Prof. Mordi criticised the current state of waste management in Nigeria, describing it as ineffective and unproductive. According to the don, poor handling of waste materials continues to fuel environmental degradation and prevent the country from…

By Peter Omopo  Lagos, July 11, 2025 — The Lagos State Government has announced a strategic partnership with China to develop the Lekki Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone, a flagship project under the China-Nigeria Low Carbon Demonstration Initiative (Nextier), aimed at curbing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable industrialization. The initiative was unveiled during a high-level meeting between the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and a Chinese delegation from Nextier, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja. Speaking at the meeting, the Lagos Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the collaboration aligns with…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 11, 2025 — Exactly one year after the Supreme Court mandated financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, state governors continue to control council funds, defying the landmark judgment that declared such practice unconstitutional. An investigation by The PUNCH has revealed that over N4.5 trillion in local government allocations has been disbursed through state governments since the July 11, 2024, verdict—despite clear directives for direct funding from the Federation Account. The apex court had ordered that local councils receive their funds directly, labelling the decades-old Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) system a breach of…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 11, 2025 — The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions (FHI) chapter, has rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, describing it as unfair and dismissive of the critical role nurses play in the country’s healthcare system. The controversial circular — No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27, 2025 — titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service”, reportedly failed to include nurses in key adjustments to medical allowances, sparking outrage within the nursing community. Speaking after an emergency National Executive Council…

By Peter Omopo  Minna, July 11, 2025 — The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of train services on several routes in Niger State, citing persistent insecurity, bandit attacks, and vandalism of rail infrastructure. Speaking in Minna on behalf of the District Rail Superintendent, Mrs. Blessing Okanezi, NRC official Mr. John Otivere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the corporation was compelled to halt operations on some corridors due to increasing threats to the safety of passengers and railway personnel. “Our lines are not abandoned,” Otivere clarified. “Train services still originate from Lagos to Kano and…