Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025 The Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has announced plans to meet with the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) over a controversial directive that could see lecturers without master’s degrees downgraded to non-academic staff. The directive, contained in a September 10 circular signed by NBTE’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Idris Bugaje, and addressed to rectors and provosts of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions, stipulates that academic staff without a master’s degree after five years of employment would be converted to non-teaching roles. Bugaje, in the circular, expressed concern that many…

By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025 The United States has cut imports of Nigerian goods by more than 40 per cent within a single month, raising fresh concerns about Nigeria’s dependence on its long-standing trade partner. Latest data from the US Census Bureau and the Bureau of Economic Analysis show that imports of Nigerian goods fell from $639m in June 2025 to $379m in July — a 41 per cent plunge. The decline was mirrored by a drop in US exports to Nigeria, which slid from $919m in June to $584m in July. Despite this, Washington maintained a surplus…

By Jimmy Fatunbi CELEBRATING THE CAPTAIN: HON. MOYOSORE ADEBANJO @ 37 Proverbs 12:24A states, “The hand of the diligent will rule.” This biblical verse is the true reflection of Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo of Onigbongbo LCDA, who clocks 37 today. Without any iota of doubt, the 37th birthday of Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo is worth celebrating, considering how he has made meaningful impacts within the few days/months he has been in office as the Mayor of Onigbongbo. Hon. Moyosore who is the youngest chairman as of now, has had the zeal to drive change around his community as a constant thing on…

By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025 The build-up to the November 8 governorship election in Anambra State has taken a dramatic turn as the state’s First Lady, Dr. Nonye Soludo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC) deputy governorship candidate, Senator Uche Ekwunife, clashed in a heated exchange of accusations. Mrs. Soludo, in a statement on Saturday, accused Ekwunife of spreading “malicious allegations and lies” against her family and threatened legal action unless the former lawmaker retracted her claims within 72 hours. Her reaction followed a viral video in which Ekwunife criticised Governor Chukwuma Soludo and alleged that both the…

By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025 Canada has denied 1,596 asylum applications filed by Nigerian nationals so far in 2025, fresh figures from the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) reveal. According to data updated as of August 21, Nigerians submitted 3,548 claims this year, of which 2,292 were approved — representing an acceptance rate of about 65 per cent. This marks an improvement compared to previous years, when cumulative rejections exceeded 13,000. A report by Maple Crest Law, a Canadian immigration practice, earlier estimated that Nigerians were among the top asylum seekers in early 2025, alongside citizens of Mexico,…

By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025. The Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPPMAN) has criticised the Dangote Refinery’s plan to slash petrol prices, warning that the move could destabilise the downstream sector and unfairly burden local businesses. Dangote Refinery had announced that from Monday, petrol prices would drop from ₦865 to ₦841 per litre in Lagos and the South-West, and ₦851 in Abuja, Edo, and Kwara, alongside the rollout of its direct distribution scheme. In a statement issued on Saturday, DAPPMAN’s Executive Secretary, Olufemi Adewole, described the refinery’s repeated price cuts as “strategically timed” to disrupt…

By Peter Omopo | September 14, 2025. The Southern Caucus of former federal legislators has formally endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for re-election in 2027, pledging its full support for his administration’s ongoing reforms and development agenda. The endorsement was announced after a consultative meeting of the caucus, where members commended Tinubu for what they described as his “courageous leadership” in steering Nigeria through economic and security challenges. Speaking on behalf of the group, the caucus chairman said the former lawmakers were united in their conviction that Tinubu’s policies under the Renewed Hope Agenda are laying the foundation for long-term…

By Sola Ojewusi  In the pantheon of African highlife music, few names shine as brightly as Chief Dr. Oliver Sunday Akanite—fondly known to the world as Oliver De Coque. The maestro, with his magical guitar strings and philosophical lyrics, enthralled audiences across Nigeria and beyond, defining a generation with his unique brand of Ogene Sound Super of Africa. From “People’s Club of Nigeria” to “Nnukwu Mmanwu” and “Ana Enwe Obodo Enwe,” his songs carried the heartbeat of the Igbo people while etching a permanent place for highlife music in Africa’s cultural firmament. But today, 16 years after his passing, the…

By Oluwabukola Raji Oworonshoki community in Lagos has been thrown into confusion following a series of midnight demolitions that residents claim were carried out under questionable circumstances. According to eyewitness accounts, bulldozers moved in under the cover of darkness, pulling down buildings without clear warnings. Families woke up to find their homes and businesses reduced to rubble, with many left stranded in the process. Frustrated residents took their grievances to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), where they met with the General Manager, Gbolahan Oki. Sources at the meeting allege that Oki initially said he was unaware of the…

By Peter Omopo | September 13, 2025 Supporters of President Bola Tinubu have pushed back against growing calls on social media urging Nigerians to stage protests inspired by recent youth-led demonstrations in Nepal. The Nepali uprising, driven largely by Generation Z activists, toppled the country’s prime minister after weeks of unrest over politicians’ lavish lifestyles. Protesters defied curfews in Kathmandu earlier this week, setting fire to government buildings including the Supreme Court and parliament. The violence marked Nepal’s deadliest political crisis in years. In Nigeria, some activists and online commentators drew parallels with local grievances. Juwon Sanyaolu, leader of the…