Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  Rio de Janeiro, July 6, 2025 — President Bola Tinubu has pledged to eliminate bureaucratic and structural obstacles stalling growth in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, with the goal of achieving food sovereignty and expanding agricultural exports. Tinubu gave the assurance during a bilateral meeting with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Copacabana Forte in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday, ahead of the 2025 BRICS Summit. The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries. According to a statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu said his administration…

By Peter Omopo  Kaduna, July 6, 2025 — A support group loyal to President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the emerging alliance of opposition political figures ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing it as a “waste of time” and “a gathering doomed to fail.” Operating under the banner Shehi and Matawalle Project for Tinubu 2027 Mandate, the group made its position known during the inauguration of its North-West zonal and state executives held in Kaduna on Saturday. Reacting to recent reports of a coalition involving former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi, and former Kaduna State…

By Peter Omopo  Umuahia, July 6, 2025 — Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, on Saturday received three Nigerians who regained their freedom after spending 26 years on death row at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Lagos. The released inmates include Mr. Ogbonnaya Igbojionu, an indigene of Ibere in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State; Mr. Olawale Adediji from the South West; and a third unnamed individual who was unable to travel for the meeting at Government House, Umuahia. Their release was facilitated by Mr. Simon Oshi, a legal advocate from Enugu State, who took interest in their…

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…