Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has clarified that his recent trip to the Vatican for the papal inauguration was not politically motivated, urging Nigerians to focus instead on the spiritual and moral message delivered during the event. In a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, Obi described the visit as a “deeply solemn and reflective” experience, emphasizing that his attendance at the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV was consistent with his past participation in official global ceremonies. “This was never a political event and should remain untouched by politics. Some moments are best…

By Peter Omopo  Pope Leo XIV is set to hold his first private audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday, shortly after the solemn inauguration mass marking the beginning of his papacy, the Vatican has announced. Addressing global leaders and dignitaries at St. Peter’s Square in Rome, the Pope renewed his call for peace in Ukraine, stating, “The martyred Ukraine is waiting for negotiations for a just and lasting peace to finally happen.” Zelenskyy was among several world leaders—including royalty and faith figures—who attended the historic mass. The Ukrainian president was also seen exchanging greetings with U.S. Vice President…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal Government, along with 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has repaid over N13 trillion in domestic debt between June 2023 and December 2024, according to a new report by the National Orientation Agency (NOA). The update was published in the May 16, 2025 edition of The Explainer, the agency’s weekly bulletin, and highlights what it described as an “unprecedented reduction” in debt burdens across the federation. The report noted that N1.85 trillion was repaid specifically by the 33 states and the FCT, indicating a deliberate effort by sub-national governments to manage and reduce…

By Peter Omopo  Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH) has been honoured with the Corporate Merit Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) for producing the highest number of chartered accountants in the country. The award was presented at ICAN’s 2025 Awards and Dinner Night, held in Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday. According to a statement issued by the Head of Public Relations at YABATECH, Mr. Adekunle Adams, the recognition highlights the college’s longstanding contribution to the accounting profession in Nigeria. He noted that ICAN’s very first professional examination was held at YABATECH, and the college has consistently produced…

By Peter Omopo  Former Nigerian football legend, Segun Odegbami, and Guinness World Record-holding chess master, Tunde Onakoya, have commended the sports infrastructure put in place for the 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) in Ogun State, while urging the state to prioritise sustainability through regular maintenance. The duo, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, praised the state government for its commitment to hosting the national sporting event but warned that failure to maintain the newly upgraded facilities could render the investments short-lived. Odegbami, recently appointed Ogun State Sports Ambassador…

By Peter Omopo The Federal Government has approved plans by China to establish electric vehicle (EV) factories in Nigeria as part of a broader effort to strengthen bilateral ties and boost industrial development. Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, revealed the initiative during a courtesy visit to the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake, at his office over the weekend. The visit highlighted China’s growing interest in Nigeria’s vast solid minerals sector, particularly in leveraging lithium for EV production. According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Minister’s Special Assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, Ambassador Dunhai described…

By Peter Omopo  Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) to conduct an independent system audit following the technical glitch that marred the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Kalu made the call on Sunday in Abuja while addressing journalists on the controversy surrounding the examination, which was plagued by widespread failures affecting about 380,000 candidates. The Deputy Speaker said the integrity of Nigeria’s educational assessment system has come under scrutiny, and the only way to restore public trust is through a transparent audit and comprehensive review of the…

By Peter Omopo  The Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Musa Aliyu (SAN), has disclosed that the Commission recently intercepted an attempt to divert N1.6 billion in public funds through the use of advanced technological tools. Aliyu made the revelation during a courtesy visit by the Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Khalil Halilu, according to a statement issued on Sunday by ICPC spokesperson, Demola Bakare. While he did not name the specific ministry or agency involved in the foiled theft, the ICPC…

An Ijaw environmental activist, Dr Bolouowei Kurokeme, has called on the Federal Government and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to urgently revisit and recognize the contributions of former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Chief Dan Etete, describing him as the architect of Nigeria’s oil sovereignty and a champion of indigenous participation in the energy sector. Kurokeme, who disclosed this during an interview with journalists on Sunday, also highlighted Etete’s enduring legacy, especially his bold policies in the 1990s that laid the groundwork for Nigeria’s present gains in local content development. According to him, the foresight of Etete in pioneering…

By Peter Omopo  President Bola Ahmed Tinubu arrived in Rome, Italy, on Saturday to attend the official inauguration of Pope Leo XIV, the newly elected 267th Bishop of Rome and leader of the Roman Catholic Church. The solemn inauguration mass is scheduled for Sunday, May 18, and will be attended by world leaders and dignitaries from across the globe. President Tinubu was received at the Mario De Bernardo Military Airport by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, alongside officials from Vatican City and the Nigerian Embassy. His aircraft touched down at 6 p.m. local time. Tinubu…