Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Oluwabukunmi The Oyo State Government has announced that its sustained investments in agriculture over the past three years have significantly increased food production and contributed to a drop in food prices across the state. The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made this known on Thursday while receiving the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Dotun Oyelade, who paid him a courtesy visit in Ibadan. Olaleye attributed the gains to Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration’s deliberate policies on mechanised farming, seed distribution, fertiliser support, and farmer training, which he said had collectively strengthened food security and rural development. “Cassava,…

By Peter Omopo The Nigerian Senate has begun consideration of a Bill seeking to establish a National Centre for Autism and six zonal centres across the country to promote research, diagnosis, education, and care for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The proposed legislation, sponsored by Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan (Kogi Central), aims to institutionalise early detection and intervention for children and adults with autism, while also driving awareness, professional training, and inclusion nationwide. Leading debate on the Bill titled “An Act to Establish the National Centre for Autism and Six Zonal Centres for Autism Diagnosis, Research, Education, and Care; and…

By Peter Omopo Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg has intensified his company’s aggressive push into artificial intelligence, announcing plans to invest more than $100 billion in AI development next year — a move that has sent shockwaves through Wall Street and sparked debate over the sustainability of Big Tech’s “YOLO” (You Only Live Once) approach to the AI race. Speaking during Meta’s quarterly earnings call on Wednesday, Zuckerberg said the company was spending to meet “the most optimistic cases,” underscoring his ambition to place Meta at the forefront of what he calls the next technological revolution — the creation of…

By Peter Omopo The Senate on Thursday confirmed Dr. Bernard Mohammed Doro as a minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, following a brief but decisive screening session that lasted less than 30 minutes. Lawmakers expressed confidence in Doro’s qualifications, describing him as a seasoned technocrat with the competence to contribute meaningfully to President Bola Tinubu’s administration. Born in Kwall, Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Doro becomes the third minister from the state in the current cabinet. During his appearance before the Senate, he pledged to promote fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in Nigeria’s humanitarian and social development programmes.…

By Peter Omopo A tragic multiple-truck collision on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway claimed at least eight lives on Thursday morning, causing chaos and massive gridlock around the Kara Bridge, outward Lagos. The deadly crash, which occurred near the Berger axis, involved several heavy-duty trucks. Eyewitnesses said one of the vehicles plunged into the Kara River, while two others collided and burst into flames, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky. The inferno triggered panic among motorists and commuters, forcing many to abandon their vehicles as traffic ground to a halt on the busy highway. Emergency responders from the Lagos…

By Peter Omopo The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has thrown its weight behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to review the recent presidential pardon list, describing the move as a demonstration of “institutional strength, constitutional responsibility, and leadership maturity.” The party’s defence came amid sharp criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who labelled the reversal of some pardons — including that of convicted murderer Maryam Sanda — as “an act of shame, not wisdom.” Atiku, through his media aide, Phrank Shaibu, had accused the Tinubu administration of lacking moral consistency and transparency, questioning how…

By Peter Omopo The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the permanent forfeiture of $49,700 recovered from the residence of a former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State, Dr. Nura Ali, to the Federal Government. Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order on Wednesday following a motion filed by counsel to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Osuobeni Akponimisingha, who urged the court to make the forfeiture final. Akponimisingha informed the court that the ICPC had fully complied with an earlier order of interim forfeiture and had…

By Peter Omopo A dispute has erupted in Ijesaland over the rightful holder of the Odole Owa chieftaincy title, as the Palace of the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adesuyi Haastrup, dismissed claims by Mr. Adebola Orolugbagbe to the position, describing them as false and without legitimacy. In a statement signed by the monarch’s Personal Secretary, Mr. John Abe, and made available to The PUNCH in Osogbo on Wednesday, the palace cautioned members of the public against recognizing or extending any privileges to Orolugbagbe in connection with the title. The palace’s position followed a counter-statement issued earlier by the Odole…

By Peter Omopo The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace Limited, Allen Onyema, has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the crucial policy support that enabled the airline’s historic Abuja–London Heathrow flight and drastically reduced international airfares. Speaking during an interview on ARISE News on Wednesday, Onyema said Tinubu’s intervention compelled foreign airlines to cut their ticket prices from as high as $13,000 to about $3,000. “I want to congratulate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for pulling this off,” Onyema said. “This is a clear example of government creating an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive.…

By: ‘dayo Adedayo Growing up in Ijebu-Ife, in the heart of Ijebu East Local Government Area of Ogun State, my world was one of flat farmlands, low plains, and thick vegetation. I never encountered a single hill or mountain, not in childhood curiosity nor in adolescent wanderings. Even when I moved to Lagos, where the land meets the Atlantic, I remained surrounded by coastal flats and lagoons, unaware of the rugged beauty hidden in other parts of our nation. That changed when I ventured to Ondo State as a young student at the School of Agriculture, Akure (now Federal University…