Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and federal civil servants have called on the Federal Government to urgently review the national minimum wage, warning that the current ₦70,000 benchmark is no longer sustainable in the face of worsening economic hardship. The demand comes after several states took bold steps to increase their minimum wages above the national threshold. On August 27, Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodinma, announced an upward review of workers’ salaries, raising the minimum wage to ₦104,000. Lagos State had earlier approved ₦85,000, with a promise to raise it to ₦100,000 in 2025, while Rivers, Bayelsa,…

By Peter Omopo Residents across Nigeria and several West African countries will witness a rare celestial spectacle tonight, Sunday, September 7, as a total lunar eclipse lights up the night sky. According to scientists, the eclipse will begin around 8:00 p.m. West Africa Time and last approximately 83 minutes, during which the Moon will take on a deep reddish hue—popularly known as a “blood moon.” The National Television Authority (NTA) reported that the eclipse will be visible in countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Cameroon, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Benin, Togo, Niger, Chad, and São Tomé and Príncipe. However, westernmost areas may miss…

By Peter Omopo The Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC) has fixed September 14, 2025 for the commencement of the delayed Easter pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan. The inaugural flight will take off from the Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport in Owerri, Imo State. Executive Secretary of the Commission, Bishop Stephen Adegbite, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja by NCPC’s Deputy Director and Head of Media and Public Relations, Mr. Celestine Toruka. The pilgrimage had earlier been suspended in August following heightened tensions in the Middle East. Adegbite said the Commission has since taken measures to ensure…

By Peter Omopo The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) over its proposal to increase the salaries of political and public office holders in Nigeria, including the President, Vice President, governors, their deputies, and federal lawmakers. The suit, filed last week at the Federal High Court, Abuja, and marked FHC/ABJ/CS/1834/2025, seeks a declaration that the planned salary hike is “unlawful, unconstitutional and inconsistent with the rule of law.” In a statement on Sunday, SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, said the organisation is also asking the court for…

By Peter Omopo Body piercing, once seen mainly as a fashion statement, is taking on deeper meanings for many young people in Lagos who view it as a form of self-expression, identity, or even therapy. From nose and navel rings to tongue and ear studs, piercings are now part of personal narratives that reflect beauty, confidence, and sometimes rebellion. But while some embrace the trend, others continue to face backlash in workplaces and social spaces where piercings are seen as unconventional. Pamela Oko, a 20-year-old student, told the News Agency of Nigeria that her piercings made her feel beautiful and…

By Peter Omopo The Head of the Fusengbuwa ruling house of Ijebu Ode and former President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Alhaji Abdulateef Owoyemi, has assured that the process of selecting the next Awujale of Ijebu land will not be compromised by financial influence. The assurance comes as the Fusengbuwa family prepares to present candidates to succeed the late Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, who died on July 13 at the age of 91 after a historic 65-year reign. Speaking to journalists at his Idowa Ijebu country home on Saturday, Owoyemi…

By Peter Omopo State commissioners of information across Nigeria have pledged stronger collaboration with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to curb corruption at all levels of governance. The resolution was reached during a roundtable meeting in Abuja, which brought together commissioners from across the federation alongside the ICPC leadership. Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, who participated in the session, said the fight against corruption must extend beyond the federal level to states and local governments, where governance is closest to the people. He explained that the new partnership would focus on deliberate communication…

By Peter Omopo The All Progressives Congress (APC) has tightened its hold on the Senate following the defection of Senator Ahmed Wadada (Nasarawa West) from the Social Democratic Party (SDP), pushing its membership in the upper chamber to 72. With the new numbers, the APC commands a commanding majority in the 109-member Senate, while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has shrunk to 28 seats. The Labour Party retains five senators, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has two, while the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and SDP now hold one seat each. Wadada, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public…

By Peter Omopo No fewer than 231 people have died and 114 remain missing following floods that have ravaged communities across Nigeria in 2025, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed. Latest figures obtained by Sunday PUNCH on Saturday show that 607 people have been injured, while over 315,000 residents across 25 states and 86 local government areas have been affected. The disaster, triggered by heavy rainfall, poor drainage systems, and the release of excess water from dams, has left 113,367 people displaced, destroyed 40,493 homes, and submerged more than 46,000 hectares of farmland. Children, women, and the elderly…

By Peter Omopo When the world bid farewell to Chinua Achebe in March 2013, it was not just the loss of a novelist, but the passing of a voice that had defined African literature for over half a century. Achebe, born in 1930 in Ogidi, Anambra State, carved his name in history as the man who told Africa’s story with clarity, dignity, and power. His groundbreaking debut, Things Fall Apart (1958), did more than introduce him to the literary world — it gave Africa its first modern classic. Translated into over 50 languages and selling millions of copies worldwide, the…