Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  The Ondo State Muslim Welfare Board on Monday confirmed the successful airlift of the first batch of 316 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for the 2024 Hajj exercise. Chairman of the Board, Alhaji Dhikirulahi Chandy-Adam, disclosed the development in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), noting that the pilgrims were scheduled to depart at 1 p.m. on Monday. He stated that all the pilgrims had undergone the necessary health protocols, including vaccinations for yellow fever and meningitis, ahead of their journey to the holy land. According to Chandy-Adam, Ondo State has a total of…

By Peter Omopo  Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agricultural initiatives with significantly reducing poverty in northern Nigeria, particularly in the North-West region. Speaking on Sunday during the distribution of presidential palliative relief materials at Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall in Kaduna, Governor Sani praised the Tinubu administration for what he described as unprecedented support for agricultural development. “No president has supported agriculture like President Tinubu,” Sani stated. “The poverty level in Northern Nigeria was hovering around 65 to 70 percent. But over the past two years, thanks to the president’s deep and structural interventions,…

By Peter Omopo  The Edo State Government has announced plans to initiate legal action against the Neo Black Movement (NBM), popularly known as Black Axe, in response to a wave of cult-related killings and violence across the state. In a statement issued on Monday by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Fred Itua, the government said it had begun legal consultations to hold the group accountable, following public admissions by individuals identifying as NBM leaders. The statement noted that these self-proclaimed leaders had openly criticized the recent demolition of a building linked to their operations, effectively confirming their…

By Peter Omopo  The Lagos State Government, through the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), has demolished a cluster of shanties in the Ikeja Government Reserved Area (GRA) over concerns about their use for criminal activities. The enforcement exercise, conducted over the weekend, was carried out in collaboration with the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA), Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and the Ikeja GRA Residents Association. In a statement released on Sunday, LASBCA’s Permanent Secretary, Gbolahan Oki, said the removal became imperative following complaints from residents about increased insecurity in the area.…

By Sola Ojewusi It was a radiant celebration of love as Miss Great Damilola Amusan and her heartthrob, Mr. Ademilola Temitope Adedayo, were joined in holy matrimony at the serene Hidden Manna Ministries (a.k.a. Manna Bible Church), Osogbo, recently. The solemnisation ceremony, graced by family, friends, and well-wishers, was a blend of spiritual depth and joyful elegance. The union brought together the Amusan and Adedayo families in a moment of shared pride and joy—one that will remain etched in their hearts for a lifetime. From heartfelt vows to spirited thanksgiving, each moment was a testament to faith, love, and unity.…

By Peter Omopo  Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has celebrated the Leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organisation, Afenifere, Pa Reuben Fasoranti, on the occasion of his 99th birthday, describing him as a towering figure in Nigeria’s history and a beacon of Yoruba heritage. In a statement issued on Sunday by his media aide, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu extolled Fasoranti’s remarkable legacy, noting that his contributions to national development and Yoruba advancement are indelible. “Pa Fasoranti is a true statesman whose life and service have left lasting imprints on the sands of time,” Sanwo-Olu said. “His leadership in Afenifere and commitment…

By Peter Omopo  Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, and his Bayelsa State counterpart, Senator Douye Diri, were on Saturday conferred with honorary Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) degrees in Social and Economic Development by the Nigerian Maritime University (NMU), Okerenkoko, during the institution’s second combined convocation ceremony. Also honoured at the event were Senator James Manager, who received a Doctor of Science in National Development, and Engr. Ebipador Ogionwo, who was conferred with a Doctor of Science in Industrial Development. Governor Oborevwori, represented by the Delta State Commissioner for Higher Education, Professor Nyerowho Tonukari, expressed deep appreciation for the…

By Peter Omopo  The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has criticised the state of governance in Nigeria, citing widespread institutional decay, bureaucratic inefficiencies, and endemic corruption as major impediments to national development. ASUU National President, Prof. Emmanuel Osodeke, made the remarks on Saturday during the union’s 23rd National Delegates Conference held at the University of Benin, Main Campus, Ugbowo. Osodeke expressed deep concern over what he described as a glaring absence of inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in the country’s leadership. He blamed the prevailing economic and social challenges on the government’s adoption of neoliberal economic policies, which he argued…

By Peter Omopo  Renowned human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has demanded an official investigation into the alleged diversion of the $3.4 billion loan Nigeria received from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Falana made the call in a statement released on Sunday, following confirmation by the IMF last week that Nigeria had fully repaid the emergency loan obtained under the Rapid Financing Instrument. Although the loan’s principal has been cleared, outstanding charges amounting to SDR 125.99 million—approximately N275.28 billion—remain. He noted that the emergency funding, secured in April 2020, was intended to…

By Peter Omopo  The Anambra State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has uncovered a large-scale illegal artisanal refinery and an unauthorized petrol station operating at Y-Junction, Nkwelle Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area. The discovery was made during a joint operation conducted on Saturday in collaboration with the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Navy, following credible intelligence on illicit activities in the area. According to a statement released on Sunday by the Head of Media and Tactical Unit, NSCDC Anambra Command, Okadigbo Edwin, the security team stormed the location around 1:45 p.m., seizing several quantities…