Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  At least 99 Indonesian pilgrims participating in the ongoing Hajj have been diagnosed with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia, with one fatality recorded, the Indonesian Ministry of Health confirmed on Thursday. Liliek Susilo, head of the ministry’s Hajj Health Centre, raised concerns over the sharp rise in infections, warning that the illness could worsen rapidly if not properly and promptly treated. “The rise in pneumonia cases among our Hajj pilgrims needs careful attention because it can get worse if not treated fast and correctly,” Susilo said. According to the ministry, the affected pilgrims are currently receiving intensive medical…

By Peter Omopo  The Academic Staff Union of Colleges of Agriculture (ASUCA) has commenced a three-day warning strike to protest the appointment of Prof. Jeremiah Atumgwu as Provost of the Federal College of Agriculture, Ibadan, Oyo State. The union, in a statement delivered by its National President, Williams Manggoel, during a press briefing in Jos, Plateau State, on Thursday, said the strike would run from Monday to Wednesday next week, following the expiration of a 21-day ultimatum issued to the federal government. Manggoel criticised Atumgwu’s appointment, describing it as a breach of established criteria for the position. He explained that…

By Peter Omopo  Nigeria National League (NNL) side Abakaliki FC continued their giant-killing streak in the 2025 President Federation Cup, defeating Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) outfit Ikorodu City 5-4 on penalties to book a historic spot in the final. The semi-final clash, held at the Bwari Township Stadium in Abuja on Wednesday, ended in a goalless stalemate after 90 minutes, but it was the Salt City club who held their nerve during the shootout to secure a dramatic victory. Abakaliki FC have emerged as the surprise package of this year’s tournament, eliminating top-tier teams at every stage. Their fairytale…

By Peter Omopo  Nigeria National League (NNL) side Abakaliki FC continued their giant-killing streak in the 2025 President Federation Cup, defeating Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) outfit Ikorodu City 5-4 on penalties to book a historic spot in the final. The semi-final clash, held at the Bwari Township Stadium in Abuja on Wednesday, ended in a goalless stalemate after 90 minutes, but it was the Salt City club who held their nerve during the shootout to secure a dramatic victory. Abakaliki FC have emerged as the surprise package of this year’s tournament, eliminating top-tier teams at every stage. Their fairytale…

By Peter Omopo  Chairmanship candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Agege and Orile-Agege Local Council Development Areas have refuted claims of imposition and health concerns surrounding their colleague, describing recent allegations as “cheap blackmail” and “false narratives.” The candidates addressed the controversies at a press briefing on Wednesday, following protests by some aggrieved party members over the recently concluded APC primaries ahead of the Lagos local government elections slated for July 12. Akinola Idowu, APC’s chairmanship candidate for Orile-Agege LCDA, defended the integrity of the primary elections, insisting they were “transparent, free and fair.” He attributed the backlash…

By Peter Omopo  The Lagos State Government has launched a one-month intensive training programme on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion for 500 polytechnic students from across the South-West region. The initiative, which began this week in Lagos, was announced in a statement on Thursday by the Deputy Director of Public Affairs at the Ministry of Transportation, Bolanle Ogunlola. Organised by the Mojisola Olayinka Fatungase Edema Foundation in partnership with the South-West Zone of the National Association of Polytechnic Students, the training is themed “The Future of CNG in Nigeria: Empowering a Sustainable Tomorrow.” It aims to equip students with practical…

By Peter Omopo  A coroner in South Wales has attributed the tragic drowning of 15-year-old Nigerian teenager, David Ejimofor, to inadequate safety measures at Aberavon Beach in Neath Port Talbot. David died on the evening of June 19, 2023, after jumping from a breakwater into the sea. The inquest into his death, held on Tuesday, concluded that a “lack of effective deterrents” played a significant role in the incident. Coroner Edward Ramsay, delivering his verdict, noted that while David had received some swimming training, his ability was insufficient to cope with the conditions at the beach. “Despite the frantic efforts…

By Peter Omopo  President Bola Tinubu has placed the $25 billion Nigeria-Morocco gas pipeline project among his administration’s top priority infrastructure initiatives, Senator Jimoh Ibrahim revealed on Wednesday. Speaking at the executive session of the African Parliament Union in Casablanca, Morocco, Ibrahim, who represents Nigeria at the gathering, said the President is committed to reviewing and reviving abandoned projects, with the transcontinental pipeline taking centre stage. The ambitious project, which spans approximately 5,660 kilometres, is designed to transport up to 30 billion cubic metres of natural gas annually. The pipeline will run through 13 African countries, including Nigeria, Benin, Togo,…

By Peter Omopo  The South-East Caucus in the House of Representatives has called for the cancellation of the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), citing widespread irregularities and what it described as a “catastrophic institutional failure” by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). Leading the charge is Hon. Iduma Igariwey, who made the demand during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Tuesday. Igariwey argued that the credibility of the examination had been compromised, leaving many candidates who prepared diligently unable to sit for the test under fair conditions. “The whole thing has lost its integrity. It has…

By Peter Omopo  The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has raised alarm over the growing role of gold and critical mineral demand in fuelling crime, corruption, and instability across Africa. In a new report released on Tuesday in Vienna, titled “Minerals Crime: Illegal Gold Mining, Part Two of the Global Analysis on Crimes that Affect the Environment,” the UN agency detailed how organised criminal networks, corporations, and individuals are increasingly involved in illegal gold mining and mineral trafficking. The report highlighted that while most gold mining activities take place in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean, and…