Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  Lagos | July 6, 2025 — Nigerian highlife icon Bright Chimezie has secured a new global distribution and digital partnership deal with music powerhouse ONErpm, just weeks after finalizing a publishing agreement with Sony Music Publishing. The fresh collaboration with ONErpm — a leading global music distribution and artist services platform — aims to reintroduce Chimezie’s extensive catalog of Zigima music to international audiences. It will also support the digital release of upcoming projects, leveraging ONErpm’s global infrastructure to expand the reach of his culturally rich sound. “My music has always been about the people, our culture,…

By Sola Ojewusi Gondomar, Portugal — Under grey, weeping skies, Portugal stood still today as the nation laid to rest two of its beloved sons, Diogo Jota, the celebrated footballer, and his younger brother, André Silva. The funeral, marked by overwhelming grief and moments of solemn grace, drew together family, friends, teammates, dignitaries, and heartbroken fans who came to say goodbye to the brothers, whose lives were tragically cut short in a car accident earlier this week. The funeral mass was held at the historic Igreja Matriz de Gondomar, where hundreds of mourners packed into the church’s ancient nave, while…

By Peter Omopo  Rio de Janeiro | July 5, 2025 — Leaders of the BRICS nations are poised to issue a collective rebuke of U.S. trade policies under President Donald Trump as they convene in Rio de Janeiro for the 2025 summit of the emerging economies bloc, beginning Sunday. Diplomatic sources close to the summit negotiations say representatives from the 11-member group — led by Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — are drafting a declaration that will criticize what they describe as Washington’s “unfair and destabilizing” tariffs, which have sent ripples through global markets. Although the final communiqué…

By Peter Omopo  Lagos | July 5, 2025 — Former Minister of Interior and Interim National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has advised members of the opposition party to remain civil and focus on facts rather than confrontations as they prepare to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections. Aregbesola gave the advice on Friday upon his return to Lagos from Abuja, where the ADC was formally unveiled as a coalition platform for major opposition figures. He was welcomed at the airport by a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. In a statement…

By Peter Omopo  Lagos | July 5, 2025 — The Federal Government has approved N17 billion for the rehabilitation of the Iddo Bridge in Lagos, significantly reducing the initial project cost from N27 billion following negotiations with the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed this during an inspection tour of the damaged bridge on Friday. The bridge, a key link within Lagos’ transport infrastructure, suffered severe damage from a fire caused by illegal settlements and hazardous activities under its structure. “Julius Berger quoted around N27 billion initially, but after extensive negotiation, we agreed on…

By Peter Omopo  Abuja | July 5, 2025 — The National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, has declared that the administration of President Bola Tinubu is making significant progress in addressing the complex security challenges inherited from previous administrations. Speaking on Friday night at the 50th anniversary celebration of the Nigerian Defence Academy’s 18 Regular Course in Abuja, Ribadu highlighted the strides made by the government in restoring national security and public confidence. Delivering a lecture titled “Veterans As Significant National Assets,” Ribadu reflected on the precarious state of the nation in 2022, describing Nigeria as being at a “dangerous…

By Peter Omopo  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | July 5, 2025 — President Bola Tinubu has arrived in Rio de Janeiro to attend the 17th BRICS Summit of Heads of State and Government, scheduled to take place from July 6 to 7, 2025. BRICS — an acronym for the bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa — is a coalition of leading emerging economies aimed at fostering cooperation among the Global South. President Tinubu’s aircraft touched down at the Galeão Air Force Base at approximately 8:45 p.m. local time on Friday. Upon arrival, he was received with a…

By Peter Omopo ‎ Kyiv, Ukraine | July 5, 2025 — Ukrainian forces have captured a Nigerian national, Kehinde Oluwagbemileke, who had been fighting for the Russian military in exchange for a reduced prison sentence, officials revealed on Friday. The 29-year-old was apprehended in the Zaporizhzhia region by members of the Freedom of Russia Legion — a pro-Ukrainian unit composed of Russian defectors — according to the “I Want to Live” project, a Ukrainian government initiative aiding foreign fighters and defectors. Oluwagbemileke, who had been residing in Russia for four years prior to his recruitment, was reportedly serving a sentence…

By Peter Omopo  Benin City | July 5, 2025 — The Edo State Government has declared an outbreak of dengue fever, with 86 cases confirmed across various parts of the state. This development comes as the state continues to battle a concurrent outbreak of Lassa fever, which has claimed 24 lives from 137 confirmed cases recorded since the beginning of the year. At a press briefing in Benin City on Friday, the State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, confirmed the dengue fever outbreak and announced the activation of an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) to coordinate containment efforts. He disclosed…

By Peter Omopo  Lagos | July 5, 2025 — The Lagos State University (LASU) has dismissed two lecturers over allegations of gross misconduct, including sexual harassment, financial fraud, and the inhumane treatment of students. The decision to terminate their appointments was approved during the institution’s 143rd Statutory Meeting of the Governing Council held on Thursday, July 3, 2025. According to a statement issued by the Registrar and Secretary to the Council, Emmanuel Fanu, the disciplinary action followed investigations that confirmed the academic staff members’ involvement in serious ethical violations. One of the affected lecturers is Dr. Olatunji Abanikanda, who served…