Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has called on all levels of government and other employers of medical professionals to prioritise the welfare of doctors as a key measure to address the country’s growing brain drain crisis, commonly referred to as the “japa syndrome.” Speaking in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a grand reception held in honour of newly appointed commissioners and senior special assistants in the health sector, NMA President, Prof. Bala Audu, emphasised that the ongoing shortage of medical personnel is not exclusive to Nigeria but a global issue. He warned, however, that failure to provide…

By Peter Omopo  The United Kingdom, France, and Canada have jointly warned Israel of potential sanctions should it continue its intensified military operations in the Gaza Strip, according to a report by the BBC on Monday. In a coordinated statement, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Israel to halt its offensive and immediately facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza. The leaders described the humanitarian conditions in the enclave as “intolerable,” citing a full blockade that has restricted access to food, fuel, and medicine since early March. The joint…

By Peter Omopo  Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has declared Galatasaray “the best” after helping the club secure a record-extending 25th Turkish Süper Lig title with a 3-0 victory over Kayserispor on Sunday. Osimhen, who has been in superb form, scored his seventh goal in six games to fire the Istanbul giants to the league crown with two matches remaining. The emphatic win put Galatasaray eight points clear of closest rivals Fenerbahçe, effectively ending Jose Mourinho’s side’s title hopes. Reacting to the triumph, Osimhen celebrated on social media platform X, writing: “What more can I say? We are the Best.…

By Peter Omopo  Ogun State and Lagos State will clash in the semi-finals of the women’s badminton team event at the ongoing 2024 National Sports Festival, with the match scheduled for Tuesday (today) at the Alake Sports Centre in Abeokuta. The badminton event, which commenced on Monday, has drawn top Nigerian talent as states battle for medals in both the men’s and women’s categories. In the women’s quarter-finals, the team event was contested over three singles and two doubles matches. Hosts Ogun State, led by Olympian and multiple African Championships medallist Dorcas Adesokan, secured a dominant 3-0 victory against the…

By Peter Omopo  A fresh oil spill has struck the Oshika community in Ahoada West Local Government Area of Rivers State, causing extensive environmental damage to farmlands and contaminating local water sources, including the Wome River. The incident, which occurred on Monday, affected a pipeline operated by Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, the firm that recently took over facilities formerly managed by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria. Residents and environmental activists have decried the impact of the spill, which they say has further endangered livelihoods in the predominantly agrarian and fishing community. Environmentalist and Executive Director of the Youths…

By Peter Omopo  The National Universities Commission (NUC) has granted full accreditation to 31 academic programmes across three Nigerian institutions: Ekiti State University (EKSU), Ado-Ekiti; Ajayi Crowther University (ACU), Oyo; and the Federal Polytechnic, Ayede in Oyo State. According to official communications dated April 30, 2025, and signed by the NUC’s Acting Director of Accreditation, Abraham Chundusu, EKSU received full accreditation for 18 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes following the commission’s October/November 2024 accreditation exercise. Programmes granted full approval at EKSU include Master’s degrees in Personnel Management, Finance, Public Administration, Business Administration, and Philosophy, as well as disciplines such as Arabic…

By Peter Omopo  The Vice-Chancellor of Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Prof. Timothy Adebayo, has endorsed the Federal Government’s move to potentially extend the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) to students in private tertiary institutions. This follows a recent announcement by NELFUND Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, during a strategic engagement and sensitisation session with institutional leaders in Enugu. Sawyerr hinted that the loan scheme, currently restricted to students in public institutions, could be expanded to include private university students within the next three years. Prof. Adebayo, responding to the development, hailed the proposal as a progressive step toward ensuring educational equity…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has pledged to intensify efforts to eliminate unaccredited and fake driving schools across the country, as part of its broader strategy to enhance road safety and reduce accidents. Corps Marshal Malam Shehu Mohammed made the declaration on Monday during the 2025 National Workshop for Driving School Proprietors and Instructors held in Abuja. Mohammed emphasized that human error remains a leading factor in road traffic crashes, and underscored the importance of proper driver education through accredited institutions as a critical solution. “We have been on this for a long time. While we…

By Peter Omopo  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has formally recognised Chief George Moghalu as the Labour Party’s (LP) candidate for the upcoming Anambra State governorship election scheduled for November 8, 2025. The decision affirms the leadership of Julius Abure as the party’s national chairman, as Moghalu emerged from the faction under his control. Moghalu secured the party’s nomination by polling 573 votes to defeat his sole challenger, John Nwosu, who garnered 19 votes at the primary held on April 5 at Finotel Hotel in Awka. The primary was monitored by INEC officials and independent election observers. Of the…

By Peter Omopo  China has expressed support for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, following claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump that peace talks between the two nations would commence immediately. “China supports all efforts aimed at achieving peace,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday, reaffirming Beijing’s long-standing position on the war. The remarks came after Trump announced he had spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin for two hours on Monday and that both sides had agreed to begin peace negotiations. The development aligns with Trump’s repeated campaign promise to end the conflict within 24 hours…