Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo UMZA Air has described its maiden Abuja–Ilorin and Ilorin–Abuja commercial flights as a major milestone in the airline’s expansion plan, marking what it called “a flawless take-off” for its newest regional route. The inaugural flights, launched on Sunday, departed with full passenger loads and featured prominent officials including the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Elder Kayode Alabi, and former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Arewa PUNCH, the Managing Director of UMZA Aviation Services Limited, Anachuna Henry, expressed satisfaction with the smooth execution of both flights—from passenger processing to on-time take-off and arrival. “We…

By Peter Omopo Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa (retd.), on Monday visited President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid heightened national security concerns and ongoing counter-insurgency operations across the country. Musa, who arrived the State House at 7:03 p.m. dressed in dark-green traditional attire, was escorted into the President’s office wing by a senior security official. The visit marks his first public engagement with President Tinubu since his retirement on October 24, 2025. The purpose of the meeting, however, was not immediately disclosed. The visit comes at a time the Federal Government is implementing sweeping…

An Abuja-based lawyer, Bar Adaobi Alagwu, has strongly refuted claims by former Chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Mr. Tunde Ayeni, alleging that she is seeking an out-of-court settlement in the ongoing litigation between them. She described the claims as false, malicious, and entirely unfounded. Ayeni and Alagwu have been embroiled in a contentious dispute, following Ayeni’s denial of paternity of Alagwu’s daughter, a matter which the FCT Customary Court in Dawaki declined jurisdiction to hear. Both parties are currently before the FCT High Court in Gwagwalada, in a separate case involving a disputed property. The matter, initially scheduled…

By Jimmy Fatunbi The Executive Chairman of Onigbongbo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo, has joined the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, at the official commissioning of the newly remodeled Lagos State Police Gender-Based Violence and Family Support Centre. The centre is now renamed the Dr. (Mrs.) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu Centre for Gender-Based Violence and Family Support. The upgraded facility, located at the Lagos State Police Gender Unit, Harold Shodipo Crescent, GRA Ikeja, represents a renewed commitment by the Lagos State Government to ensure justice, protection, and swift response for survivors…

By Sola Ojewusi Speculation Grows as Gen. Christopher Gwabin Musa Emerges Likely Replacement Nigeria’s already strained security landscape entered a new phase of uncertainty on Monday following the sudden resignation of the Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar, on what the presidency described as “health grounds.” But beyond the official explanation, political analysts, security insiders and diplomatic observers believe the development signals a deeper recalibration of President Bola Tinubu’s security strategy. Badaru’s departure comes at a particularly sensitive moment — one marked by spikes in kidnappings, bandit attacks, rural terrorism, highway ambushes and soft-target assaults, all of which recently compelled…

By Peter Omopo  Former Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has dismissed reports suggesting he could emerge as a potential running mate to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar ahead of the 2027 general elections. Amaechi made it clear that he is committed to pursuing his own presidential ambition and has no intention of accepting a vice-presidential slot. The clarification followed remarks by media mogul and Atiku ally, Dele Momodu, who hinted that Atiku might consider Amaechi as a suitable running mate should Labour Party’s Peter Obi decline to join forces with him. Momodu described Amaechi as an influential political figure and…

By Peter Omopo The United States government has announced a sweeping review of all Green Cards issued to nationals of 19 countries—10 of them in Africa—after an attack on National Guard troops in Washington, D.C., on November 26. The review was ordered by President Donald Trump, following the arrest of a 29-year-old Afghan national identified as the suspect in the attack. According to AfghanEvac, which assisted in resettling Afghans after the Taliban takeover in 2021, the suspect had been granted asylum in April 2025, not permanent residency. In a statement released on X, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director…

By Peter Omopo The Presidency has called on Nigerians to help enforce President Bola Tinubu’s directive ordering the withdrawal of police escorts from VIPs by reporting anyone found violating the policy. The appeal was made by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Public Communication, Daniel Bwala, during a TV interview on Sunday. Bwala emphasised that public participation was crucial to ensuring full compliance with the executive order. “If you identify a celebrity, a private sector individual, or anyone who still has police escorts against the president’s directive, capture evidence — a photograph or video — as much…

By Peter Omopo The Plateau State Government has revealed that the state recorded 2,786 new HIV infections and 460 HIV-related deaths in 2024. The disclosure was made on Monday by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Nicholas Ba’amlong, during the 2025 World AIDS Day commemoration held in Jos. World AIDS Day is marked annually on December 1, and this year’s theme is “Overcoming Disruption: Sustaining Nigeria’s HIV Response.” Over 51,000 People Living with HIV in Plateau Ba’amlong noted that as of September 2025, 51,370 residents of Plateau State were living with HIV, comprising 14,001 males and 33,055 females. He added that…

By Peter Omopo French energy multinational TotalEnergies has announced the sale of a 40 per cent stake in two Nigerian offshore exploration licences to Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a subsidiary of US oil major Chevron. The company disclosed the development on Monday in an official statement, noting that the transaction remains subject to regulatory approval by Nigerian authorities. Deal Covers 2,000 Sq Km in West Delta Basin According to TotalEnergies, the agreement involves exploration licences covering approximately 2,000 square kilometres in the West Delta basin — an area considered highly prospective for deepwater oil and gas discoveries. Despite the…