Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 11, 2025 — Exactly one year after the Supreme Court mandated financial autonomy for Nigeria’s 774 local government councils, state governors continue to control council funds, defying the landmark judgment that declared such practice unconstitutional. An investigation by The PUNCH has revealed that over N4.5 trillion in local government allocations has been disbursed through state governments since the July 11, 2024, verdict—despite clear directives for direct funding from the Federation Account. The apex court had ordered that local councils receive their funds directly, labelling the decades-old Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) system a breach of…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 11, 2025 — The National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives (NANNM), Federal Health Institutions (FHI) chapter, has rejected a recent circular issued by the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, describing it as unfair and dismissive of the critical role nurses play in the country’s healthcare system. The controversial circular — No. SWC/S/04/S.218/III/646, dated June 27, 2025 — titled “Review of Allowances for Medical/Dental Officers in the Federal Public Service”, reportedly failed to include nurses in key adjustments to medical allowances, sparking outrage within the nursing community. Speaking after an emergency National Executive Council…

By Peter Omopo  Minna, July 11, 2025 — The Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) has announced the suspension of train services on several routes in Niger State, citing persistent insecurity, bandit attacks, and vandalism of rail infrastructure. Speaking in Minna on behalf of the District Rail Superintendent, Mrs. Blessing Okanezi, NRC official Mr. John Otivere told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the corporation was compelled to halt operations on some corridors due to increasing threats to the safety of passengers and railway personnel. “Our lines are not abandoned,” Otivere clarified. “Train services still originate from Lagos to Kano and…

In a nation where small businesses drive innovation and job creation, the importance of sustainable financing cannot be overstated. With over 40 million micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) contributing nearly 50% to Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and employing over 80% of the workforce, according to data from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the World Bank, the SME sector occupies a pivotal place in national development conversations. Yet, despite its significant contribution, the sector remains burdened by a considerable financing gap—estimated at over $158 billion, as reported by the IFC. This gap leaves millions of businesses underfunded, undercapitalised…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 11, 2025 — Senate President Godswill Akpabio has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo on his victory at the Supreme Court, describing the ruling as a reaffirmation of democracy and the will of the Edo people. In a statement personally signed and issued from Abuja on Friday, Akpabio commended the apex court’s decision, which upheld Okpebholo’s election as the duly elected governor of Edo State following the September 2024 gubernatorial polls. “The Supreme Court has affirmed the will and wishes of the overwhelming majority of the people of Edo State,” Akpabio said. “It shows that the election…

Babatunde Odubanwo It has been four years since Nigeria lost one of its most resonant voices, Sound Sultan. But while the man—Olanrewaju Abdul-Ganiu Fasasi—may no longer walk among us, his legacy is far from silent. It reverberates through music, theatre, film, and the countless lives he touched. Sound Sultan wasn’t just an entertainer; he was a cultural architect, a conscience in rhythm, a griot of the modern era. From his earliest days on the scene, Sound Sultan distinguished himself by refusing to follow the crowd. He fused Afrobeat, hip-hop, highlife, and reggae into a sound that was unmistakably his own.…

Nigeria Rejects U.S. Pressure to Accept Venezuelan Deportees — Foreign Minister Abuja, July 10, 2025 — The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, has disclosed that the United States is pressuring African nations, including Nigeria, to accept Venezuelan deportees — some of whom are reportedly ex-convicts — a proposal he said would be “difficult” for Nigeria to accept. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Friday, Tuggar firmly rejected the idea, stressing that Nigeria is already grappling with internal challenges and cannot afford to bear the burden of foreign deportees from other continents. “We cannot accept…

By Peter Omopo  Benue, July 10, 2025 — Four members of a joint security patrol have been confirmed dead following an ambush by suspected armed herders in Udei, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State. The attack occurred on Tuesday evening as the operatives were conducting a routine patrol along the Daudu–Yelewata axis, a security source told journalists on Thursday. The victims were members of the Buffalo Squad under Operation Zenda, a multi-agency security unit comprising personnel from the Mobile Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Police Counter-Terrorism Unit, and the Benue…

By Peter Omopo  Ibadan, July 10, 2025 — The Oyo State Government has approved the appointment of 116 new staff members across multiple professional cadres to address staffing gaps at the Oyo State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Eleyele, Ibadan. In addition, the government has confirmed the appointments of four principal officers into substantive positions. These include the Registrar, Librarian, Bursar, and Director of Works. The development was announced on Thursday by the Provost of the College, Dr. Gbonjubola Owolabi, during a ceremony to mark the donation of furniture by the college’s 1976–79 alumni set. According to Owolabi, the newly…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja, July 10, 2025 — Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has congratulated Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State on his Supreme Court victory, describing the ruling as a “resounding affirmation of democratic integrity and the enduring will of the people.” In a statement released on Thursday by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze, the minister praised the apex court’s judgment and lauded Governor Okpebholo’s composure throughout the legal battle. The Supreme Court earlier on Thursday upheld the decision of the Court of Appeal, which affirmed Senator Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC)…