Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  Members of the House of Representatives from northern Nigeria on Thursday decried the absence of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion centres in the North-East and North-West geopolitical zones, describing it as unfair and exclusionary. The lawmakers voiced their concerns during deliberation on a motion titled “Call to establish more compressed natural gas conversion centres across Nigeria,” sponsored by the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki, who represents Dala Federal Constituency in Kano State. Madaki noted that the Federal Government had rolled out CNG conversion centres across several states as part of the Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative, aimed…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday admitted a judgment document into evidence in the ongoing trial of former Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, rejecting an objection by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Justice Emeka Nwite ruled against the EFCC’s attempt to block the admission of a judgment from the Federal Capital Territory High Court in a civil case involving the Kogi State Chief of Staff, Ali Bello, and the Incorporated Trustees of the American International School. The EFCC had opposed the admissibility of the document, arguing it was premature since the prosecution had…

By Peter Omopo  White smoke rose from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel on Thursday, indicating that the conclave of 133 cardinals has successfully elected a new pope. The decision came on the second day of voting, marking the conclusion of deliberations to choose a successor to Pope Francis. However, the identity of the newly elected pontiff remains under wraps until the traditional public announcement is made from the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica. The Vatican and the global Catholic community now await the appearance of the new pope and the declaration, “Habemus Papam” (We have a Pope), to formally…

By Peter Omopo  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been conferred with the prestigious chieftaincy title ‘Dike Si Mba Anambra’ by traditional rulers representing all 179 communities in Anambra State. The honour was bestowed on the President on Thursday at the Dr. Alex Ekwueme Square in Awka by the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Ogalagidi, Eze Iweka III), during a ceremony held as part of Tinubu’s one-day working visit to the state. President Tinubu was in Anambra to commission a series of legacy projects completed by Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration. Speaking during the conferment, Igwe…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by MultiChoice Nigeria, the operators of DStv and GOtv, challenging the powers of the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to intervene in its recent subscription price hikes. Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice James Omotosho described the suit as an abuse of court process, noting that a similar case on the same subject matter is already pending before the Lagos Division of the court. MultiChoice had sought a legal interpretation on whether the FCCPC, under Section 17(a) of its Act, could lawfully restrain the company…

By Peter Omopo  A team of Computer Science students from Caleb University has clinched the top prize at the Bells University of Technology Hackathon Competition with their innovative AI-powered application, Valor, designed to detect the ripeness of mangoes. The winning software, which leverages computer vision and deep learning, was hailed for its precision in classifying mangoes as ripe or spoiled, addressing a long-standing challenge in agricultural produce assessment. Dubbed the “Smart, Bold, Brainy, Savvy, Mango Master,” Valor was developed to reduce food waste and improve efficiency in the fruit supply chain. In a statement released Thursday, the team explained that…

By Peter Omopo  The Imo State Police Command has taken disciplinary action against three officers involved in the assault of a road user along the Owerri-Aba Expressway, demoting one and reprimanding two others. Police spokesperson DSP Henry Okoye, in a statement issued Wednesday night, confirmed that Sergeant Anayo Ekezie had been demoted to the rank of Corporal for using a smoke gunner to assault a traveller during a stop-and-search operation. The incident, which occurred along the busy Owerri-Aba highway, sparked public outrage after a video showing the assault went viral on social media. According to Okoye, two other officers—Inspector Ofem…

By Peter Omopo  Former President Goodluck Jonathan has cautioned against the emergence of a one-party state in Nigeria through political manipulation, warning that such a development could threaten the country’s fragile democracy. Jonathan issued the warning on Wednesday in Abuja while delivering a keynote address at a memorial lecture in honour of the late elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark. He noted that while some countries have successfully implemented a one-party system, such as Tanzania under Julius Nyerere, those arrangements were deliberately planned to suit their unique socio-political realities—not imposed through subversive tactics. “A one-party state may not be inherently evil.…

By Peter Omopo  In a visit to Terra Kulture in Lagos, the Oniru of Iruland, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II, praised the institution for its significant contributions to cultural development, youth empowerment, and economic growth. The visit, which took place on Monday, was part of a series of engagements leading up to his fifth coronation anniversary, set for June 7, 2025. According to a statement released on Wednesday, the monarch noted that the visit was aimed at recognizing institutions that align with Iruland’s development vision, known as #LeGIT (Let’s Grow Iru Together). Oba Lawal emphasized that the #LeGIT agenda…

By Peter Omopo  Ayodeji Oyekunle, a scholar on gender politics and democratic governance, has emphasized that Nigeria’s democracy remains incomplete without equal representation of women in decision-making positions. She made the statement in her paper titled “Women’s Political Participation and Representation in State Legislatures, Southwest, Nigeria”, which was made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday. Oyekunle argued that for Nigeria to achieve true democratic development, women’s political participation should not be seen as an optional addition but as a crucial foundation for good governance. She highlighted that since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, one of the significant contradictions in…