Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 The United States government has announced plans to limit the duration of visas for international students and journalists, a move aimed at preventing visa misuse and enhancing oversight. Under the proposed rules by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS): F visas for foreign students would be capped at four years, down from the current practice of granting visas for the entire length of academic programs, which can exceed five years for doctoral degrees. Visas for foreign journalists would be limited to 240 days, with a possible extension of an additional 240 days, but not…

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 | Kaduna The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit Zone ‘B’ in Kaduna, has intercepted 185 blocks of Cannabis Sativa valued at N48.5 million, alongside other contraband worth N220.4 million, the agency said on Thursday. According to Chief Superintendent Saidu Nuruddeen, Public Relations Officer of the unit, the seizures were made during operations on 21 August at approximately 3:30 a.m. “Acting on intelligence, operatives stopped a vehicle along the Zaria flyover on the Kaduna–Zaria Expressway and intercepted the contraband,” Nuruddeen said. A male suspect was arrested after authorities discovered nine sacks containing 185…

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 | Abuja Labour Party (LP) lawmakers from Anambra North Senatorial District at the National Assembly have condemned the recent suspension of Abuchi Udemezue, the member representing Ayamelum constituency in the Anambra State House of Assembly. In a statement released Thursday, the caucus—comprising Senator Tony Nwoye, Afam Ogene, Idu Emeka, and Peter Aniekwe—described the suspension as “hasty and high-handed,” alleging it followed Udemezue’s vocal criticism of infrastructure decay in his gas-producing constituency and calls for accountability from both companies and the state government. “Our democracy thrives on robust debate, constructive criticism, and diversity of opinions.…

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 | Abuja Former Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha, has passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of public service and duty. The news was confirmed by Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Fintiri on Thursday via his official X handle, describing Mustapha as “a man of service, dignity and duty whose legacy will live on.” “Deeply saddened by the passing of Alhaji Ahmed Aliyu Mustapha, former CG of Customs. My prayers are with Lamido Adamawa, the Mustapha royal family, and all who mourn him. May Allah grant…

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 | Abuja The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has demanded a forensic audit of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) first-week voter registration figures ahead of the 2027 elections, citing what it described as “statistically implausible” data. In a statement on Thursday, ADC National Publicity Secretary Bolaji Abdullahi expressed concern that discrepancies in the initial Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) figures could undermine public confidence in Nigeria’s electoral process. “Osun State alone reportedly recorded 393,269 pre-registrations in just one week,” Abdullahi said. “To put this in context, Osun added only 275,815 new voters between 2019 and…

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 | Cape Town The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has called for stronger international cooperation to curb cattle rustling and tackle the rising threats posed by chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) materials across Africa. Egbetokun made the appeal while addressing delegates at the 27th INTERPOL African Regional Conference in Cape Town, South Africa. In a statement on Thursday, the Force Public Relations Officer, DCP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the IG emphasized that cattle rustling, once considered a local challenge, has now evolved into a sophisticated criminal enterprise fueling terrorism and other cross-border crimes.…

By Peter Omopo  28th August 2025 | Abuja The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has distanced himself from partisan politics, declaring that his focus remains on reforms in the oil and gas sector. Ojulari made the remark on Thursday while receiving a delegation of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), led by its president, Festus Osifo, at the NNPCL headquarters in Abuja. “I’m not hiding from anybody. I’m not a politician. I will have to learn a bit more about politics, but for me, it is…

By Peter Omopo 28th August 2025 | Owerri The Imo State Government has announced that it will commence payment of the newly approved ₦104,000 minimum wage to civil servants with the August 2025 salaries. The disclosure was made by the Chief Press Secretary and Media Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodimma, Mr. Oguwike Nwachuku, during an interview on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief on Thursday. Nwachuku explained that the wage increase, announced earlier in the week by Governor Uzodimma, was not a political stunt but a sustainable decision backed by significant growth in the state’s finances. “When this government came on…

By Peter Omopo  28th August 2025 | Maiduguri – The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised alarm that more than 2.1 million Nigerian children have never received a single vaccine, making the country the world’s highest in terms of “zero-dose” children. UNICEF Nigeria Country Representative, Wafaa Saeed, disclosed this on Thursday during a visit to the organisation’s Maiduguri field office. She revealed that nearly one in three Nigerian children under the age of one has not been vaccinated, leaving them at risk of preventable but deadly diseases such as measles, diphtheria, meningitis, and polio variants. “Nigeria has over 2.1…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja | August 27, 2025 – The Federal High Court in Abuja has adjourned the arraignment of former presidential candidate and activist, Omoyele Sowore, in a case filed against him by the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over alleged forgery and public incitement. Sowore and his media platform, Sahara Reporters, are facing a three-count charge (FHC/ABJ/CR/374/2025) bordering on conspiracy, forgery of an official police wireless message, and publication of false information with intent to incite mutiny. At Wednesday’s proceedings, prosecuting counsel Wisdom Madaki told the court that Sahara Reporters, listed as the second defendant, had not yet…