Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo Former political appointees who served under ex-Governor Idris Wada in Kogi State have appealed to Governor Usman Ododo to pay their outstanding three months’ salary arrears, saying the funds would help them cope with school fee obligations as schools resume later this month. The appeal was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lokoja and signed by Austine Medaiyedu, former Special Adviser on Inter-Governmental Affairs. “I write to beg you in the spirit of the Kogi Agenda that you hold in high esteem, and in view of the current school fees challenges facing parents as schools…

By Peter Omopo The Government of Qatar has dismissed reports circulating on social media claiming that it introduced new visa restrictions for Nigerian passport holders. An official of the Qatari Ministry of Interior told the BBC Pidgin on Wednesday that no such restrictions exist, stressing that Nigerians remain eligible to apply for visas under existing procedures. The clarification followed viral reports alleging that male Nigerian applicants would no longer be allowed entry into Qatar unless accompanied by family members. The reports further claimed that only women or families could apply for visas, with additional requirements such as five-star hotel bookings…

By Peter Omopo Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan will host prominent African leaders and global development experts at the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation 2025 Democracy Dialogue in Accra, Ghana, on September 17. In a statement on Tuesday, Jonathan’s Special Adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, said the high-level event will focus on the theme, “Why Democracies Die,” and will be co-hosted by the Government of Ghana. Distinguished leaders expected at the gathering include Ghana’s former President John Mahama; Nigeria’s ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, who will chair the dialogue; Kadré Ouédraogo, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and ex-President of the ECOWAS Commission; and Dr. Omar…

By Peter Omopo The Obidient Movement has cautioned the Federal Government against introducing a proposed 5% surcharge on petrol and diesel, warning that the policy would deepen the hardship faced by Nigerians struggling with rising living costs. The warning follows remarks by the Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, who disclosed that the levy, part of President Bola Tinubu’s tax reform agenda, is designed to fund road infrastructure and cut logistics costs. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the group’s National Coordinator, Dr. Yunusa Tanko, described the plan as “a policy built on…

By Peter Omopo The Nigerian Army says its troops have arrested 11 suspected terrorist logistics suppliers and rescued nine kidnapped victims in a series of operations conducted across the country within 48 hours. A senior military source confirmed to the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Abuja that the operations also led to the recovery of 114 livestock, ₦1.1 million cash, a pump-action rifle, four cartridges, petroleum products, and other items. In Borno State, troops of the 149 Battalion in Gubio arrested eight suspected suppliers of Boko Haram and ISWAP on September 7. Items recovered included 28 jerrycans and…

By Peter Omopo Nigerians will begin paying a 5% fossil fuel surcharge on petrol, diesel, and aviation fuel from 2026 under the new Tax Act 2025, the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee has announced. The levy, which had previously existed under the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (Amendment) Act 2007, has now been reinstated for harmonisation and transparency. According to the committee, the revenue will be dedicated to funding road infrastructure and maintenance across the country. Key Highlights of the Fuel Surcharge Rate & Scope: The 5% surcharge applies to all chargeable fossil fuel products, including petrol, diesel, and…

By Peter Omopo President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed a comprehensive overhaul of military operations in the North-East following the killing of civilians in Borno State. The President’s order, issued on Wednesday, comes in response to widespread outrage over the massacre, which has raised fresh concerns about the effectiveness of counter-insurgency efforts in the region. Tinubu, while condemning the incident, emphasized the need for stronger intelligence gathering, improved coordination among security agencies, and stricter adherence to rules of engagement in conflict zones. He assured Nigerians that his administration remains committed to restoring peace and stability in the North-East, stressing that…

By Peter Omopo The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for the country and its leaders, particularly President Bola Tinubu, as the Cherubim and Seraphim (C&S) Church marked its 100th anniversary in Ogun State. Speaking on Tuesday at the centenary thanksgiving held at Seraphim Land, Maba, the monarch described the milestone as evidence of a solid spiritual foundation. He called on the faithful to intercede for national progress and good governance. “This celebration is an indication of a true foundation,” Ooni said. “I want you to put all our leaders into prayers with this…

By Peter Omopo Doha/Jerusalem, September 9, 2025 — Israel on Tuesday launched a major airstrike in Doha, Qatar, targeting senior Hamas leaders based in the Gulf state. The attack, which struck a residential complex near the West Bay Lagoon district, has drawn sharp condemnation from Qatar and the wider Arab world, with the UN Secretary General denouncing it as a violation of international law. Explosions were heard across the Qatari capital around midday, with CCTV footage showing smoke billowing from a heavily damaged building adjacent to a Woqod petrol station on Wadi Rawdan Street. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed…

By Peter Omopo Abuja, September 9, 2025 — President Bola Tinubu has directed Nigeria’s financial and capital market regulators to intensify monitoring of digital currencies and stablecoins, warning that their growing adoption outside the traditional banking system presents new risks that must be addressed early. Speaking on Tuesday at the 18th Annual Banking and Finance Conference of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria in Abuja, Tinubu — represented by Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun — said the digital revolution was reshaping global finance. “So many people now are not using the banking system to…