Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo The Federal Government has launched a specialised PhD programme aimed at developing world-class experts in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector while maintaining international academic standards. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund on Wednesday flagged off the split-site PhD programme at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies in Kaduna, with 43 scholars inducted as the pioneer cohort. Speaking at the event, PTDF Executive Secretary, Ahmed Aminu, described the initiative as a major step toward domesticating advanced petroleum education in Nigeria. He said the programme marks a transition from reliance on overseas training to a system that combines local…

By Peter Omopo Human rights activist Omoyele Sowore has denied allegations by the Nigerian Bar Association that he staged a press conference at the Federal High Court in Abuja, insisting he merely responded to questions from journalists. The NBA, in a statement signed by its President Afam Osigwe, had criticised Sowore’s conduct, describing it as disruptive and inconsistent with courtroom decorum after he was seen addressing journalists within the court premises. Reacting, Sowore dismissed the claim as false, stating that he was at the court to obtain a Certified True Copy of a ruling which struck out a cybercrime charge…

By Peter Omopo Nigeria’s Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has defended the Federal Government’s resolution of the long-standing OPL 245 oil block dispute, describing it as a major milestone and accusing critics, including allies of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, of acting in self-interest. In a statement issued on Wednesday, Fagbemi said the settlement brings an end to nearly three decades of legal and commercial uncertainty surrounding the offshore oil asset. He criticised comments attributed to Atiku’s media office, which questioned the resolution, insisting that the agreement was in Nigeria’s best interest. The OPL 245 oil block was originally…

By Peter Omopo The father of Super Eagles and Fulham midfielder, Alex Iwobi, has dismissed reports alleging that the footballer was a victim of a violent burglary at his residence, describing the claims as false. The clarification followed viral social media reports which alleged that the Nigerian international was attacked by armed burglars who stole valuables including jewellery, wristwatches, mobile phones, a laptop, and cash running into hundreds of thousands of pounds. In an update shared by former Super Eagles media officer Colin Udoh, Iwobi’s father, Chuka Iwobi, refuted the claims, stating that no such incident occurred. Udoh said he…

By Peter Omopo The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced its South East Zonal Congress in Enugu, with thousands of party members gathering to elect members of the party’s zonal executive committee. Delegates from Enugu, Imo, Abia, Anambra, and Ebonyi states are participating in the exercise, which is expected to produce new leaders for the zone. The congress has attracted several prominent figures, including former Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige, former Senate President Ken Nnamani, as well as the governors of Imo and Ebonyi states. The host governor, Peter Mbah of Enugu State, along with other political stakeholders and party…

By Peter Omopo The Niger State Police Command has arrested seven suspects in connection with illegal mining and vandalism activities at the Gurara Waterfalls in the state. The arrests were made by operatives of the Gawu-Babangida Division during an intelligence-led raid on the facility. According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Wasiu Abiodun, the suspects were apprehended on March 22, 2026, at about 5 p.m. while engaging in illegal mining and vandalising parts of the tourist site. Those arrested include Sahabi Nasiru, Sanusi Dahiru, Nasiru Hamza, Dahiru Umar, Jamilu Dahiru, Nafiu Dahiru, all…

By Peter Omopo The Court of Arbitration for Sport has confirmed receipt of an appeal filed by Senegal seeking to overturn the Confederation of African Football’s decision to strip the country of its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations title. The appeal follows a controversial ruling by CAF’s Appeal Board, which awarded the 2025 AFCON trophy to Morocco after overturning Senegal’s victory in the final match. CAF had ruled that Senegal forfeited the final, awarding a 3–0 result in favour of the Moroccan Football Federation after upholding a protest by the hosts over alleged misconduct during the match. The decision was…

By Kolawole Omotola Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles, have unveiled a 23-man squad for their upcoming international friendlies against Iran and Jordan, with star striker Victor Osimhen notably absent from the list. Head coach Eric Chelle released the squad ahead of a four-nation invitational tournament scheduled to hold in Turkey during the international break. The competition, which also features Costa Rica, marks the team’s first gathering since finishing third at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. The Super Eagles will use the tournament as part of efforts to rebuild and strengthen the squad following their failure to qualify…

By Kolawole Omotola The Lagos State Government has commenced its 2026 promotion exercise targeting no fewer than 5,258 civil servants across various cadres in the public service. The exercise covers officers on Grade Levels 01 to 05 in the mainstream civil service, as well as those on Grade Levels 01 to 16 in parastatal organisations, reflecting a broad effort to enhance career progression within the state workforce. As part of ongoing reforms, the government has introduced a new assessment framework for senior officers. This includes the Structured Evaluation Assessment Programme (SEAP), a first-of-its-kind initiative designed to evaluate officers on Grade…

By Asiwaju Dele Taiwo Lies and pretence may seem to bring peace, but they quietly destroy relationships, while true unity grows only where there is honesty and transparency in marriage, friendships, church, and community. Pretending to be right while hiding resentment or deception creates cracks that eventually break bonds. Healing begins when people choose truth, confession, and forgiveness because love and lies can not coexist. Proverbs 12:22 reminds us, “The Lord detests lying lips, but He delights in people who are trustworthy.” Pretence promises comfort but leads to destruction, while truth, though challenging, brings lasting healing. Asiwaju Cares