Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo – August 17, 2025 Kebbi State has been thrown into mourning following the death of the Emir of Zuru, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Sani Sami (retd.), who passed away on Saturday night at the age of 81. The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Garba Umar-Dutsinmari, confirmed the monarch’s death in a statement on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi. According to him, the Emir died in a London hospital after a brief illness. The late Emir, a respected traditional ruler and retired military officer, is survived by four wives and seven children. In a condolence message, the…

By Peter Omopo – March 17, 2025. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has recovered over ₦5 billion and $10 million from contractors and government officials indicted in the alleged multi-billion naira fraud tied to the turnaround maintenance of Nigeria’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Kaduna, and Warri. Investigations, according to EFCC sources, have also uncovered an additional ₦10 billion and $13 million believed to have been siphoned through inflated contracts and questionable payments, which the agency is working to recover. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, is said to have personally overseen the probe, reportedly displeased by Nigeria’s continued reliance…

By Peter Omopo – 17th March, 2025. The Lagos State Government has sealed several properties, including residential apartments in Lekki, for illegally discharging untreated sewage into public drains in violation of state environmental laws. The enforcement exercise, conducted on Friday by the Lagos State Wastewater Management Office, targeted facilities found culpable of polluting the environment and endangering public health. In a statement on Saturday, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said six public toilet facilities in Idi-Araba were shut down after investigations confirmed they were habitually channeling raw sewage into drainage systems. “These perpetrators have been…

By Peter Omopo – Ilara, August 17, 2025  Prominent leaders across Nigeria have paid glowing tributes to the Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo (Telade IV), as he marked his fifth coronation anniversary with a series of cultural, religious, and social events in Ilara, Epe Division of Lagos State. The three-day celebration, which began on Friday, August 15, featured a street parade, Jumat service, a commemorative football match, and free medical outreach, alongside empowerment programmes for residents of the community. In his goodwill message, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State hailed Oba Ogunsanwo’s reign as impactful and progressive, noting…

By Peter Omopo  The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has declared Hassan Shado, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner of the Okura State Constituency by-election in Kogi State. Announcing the result at the Egume Collation Centre on Saturday, the Returning Officer, Prof. Emmanuel Onome, said Shado polled 55,073 votes to defeat his rivals. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate secured 1,038 votes, while the Allied Peoples Movement (APM) candidate garnered 445 votes. Despite the landslide victory, the election was marked by low voter turnout, a development acknowledged by the Resident Electoral Commissioner, Oliver Agundu. While lamenting the apathy,…

16th August 2025 By Peter Omopo The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned against any attempt to manipulate the outcome of the Babura/Garki federal constituency by-election scheduled for Saturday in Jigawa State. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Saturday PUNCH, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Umar Kyari, cautioned electoral authorities, security agencies, and political stakeholders against undermining the process. “We want to put everyone on notice that PDP supporters are vigilant and ready to resist any form of manipulation during this election,” Kyari said, stressing that the party would not tolerate any breach of electoral ethics. He urged the Independent National…

By Peter Omopo / Abakaliki, 16th August 2025 The Federal Government has approved ₦16.7 billion for the immediate reconstruction of a collapsed 10-span bridge in Niger State. The approval was announced on Saturday in Abakaliki by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, after a meeting with the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi. Idris is currently leading a federal delegation on a three-day tour of infrastructure projects and citizen engagement initiatives across the South-East. Idris described the funding approval as a clear demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s responsiveness to critical infrastructure emergencies. “We want to thank Mr.…

By Jimmy Fatunbi The Executive Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo, was present at a mentorship session organized by Hon. Hammed Olalekan Aroyewun, the Executive Chairman of Igbogbo/Bayeku LCDA, in commemoration of the 2025 International Youth Day. As one of the keynote speakers, Hon. Moyosore reflected on the struggles of youths and their pursuits of dreams. He acknowledged young people’s challenges, moments of doubt, uncertainty and temptation to give up when the road seems tough, but encouraged them never to give up. Drawing from his life journey, the Chairman narrated how perseverance, faith, and resilience kept him going despite…

By Peter Omopo  Yenagoa, 16th August 2025 – The Ijaw National Congress (INC) has called on host communities and stakeholders in the Niger Delta to support Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL), the company tasked with securing the Eastern Corridor, including the Trans Niger Pipeline (TNP). Speaking at PINL’s August stakeholders’ meeting on Friday in Yenagoa, INC President Professor Benjamin Okaba praised the company for maintaining a zero-infraction record on the TNP over the past month and for its consistent engagement with local communities. “PINL has shown they are one of us. They are not outsiders. The fact that they have…

By Peter Omopo  Air Canada faced widespread travel disruption on Saturday as its flight attendants went on strike, forcing the airline to suspend all operations and leaving more than 130,000 passengers stranded. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, confirmed the walkout, stating, “We are now officially on strike.” The strike began at 12:58 a.m. local time, following a 72-hour notice issued on Wednesday. In response, Air Canada, which operates direct flights to 180 cities globally, announced it had “suspended all operations” and advised affected passengers not to go to airports. By 8:00…