Author: TheLagosianMagazine

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…

By Peter Omopo  The outgoing Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Professor Darlington Ewaen Obaseki, was celebrated on Friday during a valedictory ceremony and book launch at the hospital premises. Philip Shaibu, former Deputy Governor of Edo State and current Director-General of the National Institute of Sports, lauded Obaseki’s contributions to healthcare infrastructure and public service. Shaibu highlighted Obaseki’s pivotal role in Edo’s successful hosting of the National Sports Festival during the COVID-19 pandemic, crediting him with devising a health plan that ensured the event could proceed safely. “When people thought Edo could not…

By Peter Omopo  Fresh FM Nigeria has confirmed a fire outbreak that gutted its headquarters in Challenge, Ibadan, on Friday night. In a statement released late Friday, Samson Akindele, Group Head of Corporate Affairs at Fresh FM Nigeria and Yinka Ayefele Limited, said the blaze severely affected key facilities, including the studios of Fresh 105.9 FM and Blast 98.3 FM. The fire reportedly spread to adjoining offices, including the newsroom, transmitter/server room, and other critical broadcasting equipment, causing extensive damage. Initial attempts by staff to extinguish the fire using in-house equipment were unsuccessful due to the intensity of the blaze…

By Peter Omopo  Nigeria’s headline inflation rate fell for the fourth consecutive month in July 2025, dropping to 21.88 per cent from 22.22 per cent in June, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported on Friday. According to the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, the July figure represents a 0.34 percentage point decline from June and an 11.52-point decrease compared to the 33.40 per cent recorded in July 2024. The report stated that the CPI rose to 125.9 in July from 123.4 the previous month. The NBS noted that the year-on-year moderation partly reflected the recent change in the…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal Government has strongly criticized a Canadian Federal Court decision that reportedly classified Nigeria’s All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as terrorist organisations, describing the ruling as “reckless, baseless, and an unacceptable interference” in the country’s internal affairs. The ruling, issued on June 17, 2025, came during an immigration case involving Douglas Egharevba, a former member of both parties who sought refugee status in Canada after arriving in 2017. The Canadian court dismissed Egharevba’s judicial review, upholding an earlier tribunal decision that deemed him inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, citing…

By Peter Omopo  The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting persons with disabilities by providing financial assistance to 15 registered disability homes and cluster heads across the state. In a statement made available to Saturday PUNCH, the General Manager of the Lagos State Office for Disability Affairs (LASODA), Mrs. Adenike Oyetunde-Lawal, presented cheques worth N500,000 and above to the beneficiaries at Alausa, Ikeja. Oyetunde-Lawal described the initiative as an annual government gesture aimed at helping the homes achieve financial independence, manage daily challenges, and improve the quality of life for residents. She said, “It is part of…

By Peter Omopo  The Federal Government has dropped earlier punitive measures against popular Fuji musician Wasiu Ayinde, also known as KWAM 1, and Ms. Comfort Emmason, a passenger on an Akwa Ibom-owned airline, following separate airport incidents that sparked public outrage. Investigations by Saturday PUNCH revealed that KWAM 1 issued an apology after pressure from influential figures, while Emmason’s charges were withdrawn after a review of the airline’s role and the potential legal consequences for both parties. The Incidents On August 10, Emmason was removed from a Lagos-Uyo flight after allegedly refusing to turn off her phone. The altercation escalated,…

By Peter Omopo  Two seminarians of the Immaculate Conception Minor Seminary in Ivhianokpodi, Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, remain in captivity 36 days after being kidnapped, Saturday PUNCH reports. The minors were abducted on July 10 when gunmen stormed the seminary, killing a Civil Defence Corps officer and abducting three students. One of the abductees was later released, but the other two continue to be held by the kidnappers. A video reportedly released by the kidnappers shows the seminarians surrounded by masked, armed men, appealing to their parents and the public for help in securing their…

By Peter Omopo  Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has accused President Bola Tinubu’s government of overseeing a sharp decline in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Nigeria. In a statement shared on his official X account on Friday, Obi attributed the slump to “poor leadership, weak governance, and uncoordinated reforms.” He highlighted fresh data from the National Bureau of Statistics showing that FDI inflows fell by about 70 per cent in the first quarter of 2025, dropping to $126.29 million from $421.8 million in the fourth quarter of 2024. “While the President, ministers, and other government officials continue their…

By Jimmy Fatunbi The Executive Chairman of Onigbongbo LCDA, Hon. Moyosore Adebanjo, has commended the Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd. ( NBCL) for its sustained commitment to human capital development through the Supply Chain Academy, as the institution marked its 27th Graduation Ceremony today. Speaking at the event, Hon. Adebanjo described the programme as a “noble and visionary investment” that will not only strengthen the company’s operations but also contribute to the socio-economic growth of Nigeria by empowering individuals with relevant skills and industry knowledge. Addressing the graduating class, Hon. Adebanjo congratulated them for achieving this milestone and urged them to…