Author: TheLagosianMagazine

By Peter Omopo  Kolade Alabi, Chairman of Bariga Local Government Area in Lagos State, collapsed on Wednesday during an All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders’ meeting at the party’s state secretariat in Ikeja. Alabi, who also serves as the Lagos State Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), was reportedly addressing party members when he suddenly slumped. He was immediately attended to and later revived before being taken to a hospital by ambulance for further medical attention. Details on his current condition remain undisclosed as of the time of this report.

By Peter Omopo  Nigeria is set to welcome delegates from at least 35 countries for the 61st Africa Day celebration, scheduled to take place from May 24 to 27 in Abuja. The announcement was made on Wednesday during a press conference by Mr. Young Piero, Coordinator and Director of Parliament for the Africa, Caribbean and Pacific Joint Sessions of the Africa Union Simulation. Africa Day marks the founding of the Organisation of African Unity—now the African Union—on May 25, 1963, and serves as a moment to reflect on the continent’s achievements and ongoing challenges. This year’s event will feature a…

By Peter Omopo  A total of 133 Catholic cardinals gathered at St. Peter’s Basilica on Wednesday, May 7, to celebrate a solemn Mass just hours before entering the secret conclave to elect a new pope following the death of Pope Francis last month. Led by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the special liturgy included a formal procession and incense-blessing of the altar and a statue of the Virgin Mary. Hymns echoed through the historic basilica as the cardinals prepared spiritually for the monumental task ahead. Following the Mass, the cardinals will proceed to the Sistine Chapel, where the private conclave will…

By Peter Omopo  The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Abia State Chapter, has praised Governor Alex Otti for approving the full implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) for doctors employed by the state government. In a statement released on Wednesday in Umuahia, the state NMA Chairman, Dr. Ezinwa Ezuruike, described the move as a “landmark approval” that restores long-awaited pay parity for Abia-based doctors with their federal counterparts. Ezuruike said the decision, announced on April 29, reflects Governor Otti’s commitment to healthcare development and the welfare of health professionals. “By aligning Abia’s medical salary structure with the federal CONMESS,…

By Peter Omopo  The Ondo State Government has dismissed allegations by cocoa farmers in Odigbo Local Government Area that it is colluding with a private company to forcibly take over their farmlands in the Oluwa Forest Reserve. Hundreds of farmers staged a protest on Sunday, accusing the state government and SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited of destroying their plantations and threatening their livelihoods. The protesters alleged that the encroachment was orchestrated by the former CEO of SAO Agro-Allied and current Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, in collaboration with government officials. However, in a statement issued Wednesday,…

By Peter Omopo  The United States and Yemen’s Huthi rebels have reached a ceasefire agreement aimed at restoring safe navigation in the Red Sea, following months of rebel attacks on commercial shipping, mediators announced on Tuesday. The breakthrough came after diplomatic efforts spearheaded by Oman, whose Foreign Minister, Badr Albusaidi, confirmed that “recent discussions and contacts… with the aim of de-escalation” had culminated in a truce between the two sides. “Neither side will target the other… ensuring freedom of navigation and the smooth flow of international commercial shipping,” Albusaidi said in a statement, signaling an end to a prolonged maritime…

By Peter Omopo  In-form Nigeria Premier Football League newcomers, Ikorodu City, will continue their chase for a historic continental ticket on Wednesday when they host Bayelsa United in a crucial matchday 36 encounter at the Onikan Stadium in Lagos. The high-flying Lagos-based side, coached by Nurudeen Aweroro, head into the midweek tie buoyed by a hard-fought 1-0 win over Wikki Tourists in the quarter-finals of the President Federation Cup—a victory that sealed their place in the semi-finals of Nigeria’s oldest club competition. Nicknamed “The Oga Boys,” Ikorodu City have enjoyed a strong run of form lately, recording three wins, one…

By Peter Omopo  Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has urged President Bola Tinubu to lead by example by replacing his foreign-made official vehicles with locally manufactured ones, such as Innoson or Nord, in line with the newly approved “Nigeria First” policy. Atiku, in a statement issued on Wednesday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication, Phrank Shaibu, said such a symbolic move would do more to strengthen Nigeria’s local industries than lengthy policy documents. His remarks come days after the Federal Executive Council approved the “Nigeria First” policy, which mandates…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal Government has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) with the aim of transforming the scheme into a more strategic tool for youth empowerment, national development, and security. The move was announced on Tuesday in Abuja during the inauguration of a high-level review committee tasked with evaluating and repositioning the 51-year-old programme. The committee includes representatives from government ministries, civil society, and the private sector. Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, said the review is driven by growing concerns over the safety of corps members, outdated infrastructure, and the scheme’s relevance…

By Peter Omopo  Tensions between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan escalated sharply on Wednesday after India launched a series of airstrikes in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in retaliation for last month’s deadly attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir. The Indian government said the military operation—codenamed Operation Sindoor—targeted nine sites linked to militant groups Lashkar-e-Tayyiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed in what it described as “precision strikes” that avoided civilian and military infrastructure. Officials in New Delhi said the 25-minute operation was a direct response to the April massacre in which 26 people, mostly Indian tourists, were gunned down at a mountain resort in…