Author: Platform Times Newspaper

… 28 Million Children Lack Access To Basic Or Digital Education, Agency Warns …Country Could Earn $15bn Yearly By 2030 With Timely Investment Daud Olatunji  Nigeria may forfeit its place in a fast-growing $130 billion global digital skills economy unless it urgently expands investments in technology-driven education for its young population, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned. Speaking at a two-day media dialogue on digital learning organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Information in partnership with UNICEF, the Chief of UNICEF Lagos Field Office, Celine Lafoucriere, said the country stands to earn more than $15 billion annually…

The Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State has sealed a bilateral agricultural development partnership with the City of Dover in the United States, marking what officials describe as a major step toward shared food security initiatives and cross-border knowledge exchange. Chairman of Obafemi Owode LG, Ambassador Adesina ’Lanre Ogunsola, confirmed the agreement during an official award presentation and cultural exchange ceremony held on Monday in Dover, Delaware. Ogunsola, who addressed the Dover Legislative Council at a plenary session, said the partnership would drive mechanised farming, joint agricultural research and youth agro-entrepreneurship programmes. He announced that the local government…

The Federal Government has terminated several Abuja–Lokoja highway contracts after a performance audit revealed poor delivery and significant delays on key sections of the strategic corridor. Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced the decision on Wednesday in Abuja after a review session with contractors handling various portions of the highway. He said the move became necessary following persistent underperformance, missed deadlines, and what he described as “effluxion of time” on multiple projects. Umahi, represented by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, said the terminated jobs include the provision of culverts and drains on Section 2 of the…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday declared a nationwide security emergency and rolled out sweeping measures aimed at curbing the escalating violence that has gripped communities across the country. In a broadcast outlining his administration’s new security blueprint, the president vowed to confront terrorists, bandits and other violent groups “with courage and determination,” insisting that Nigerians “deserve to live without fear.” A major plank of the emergency push is an aggressive manpower expansion in the security services, alongside legal reforms and strict directives to state governments, religious institutions and herders’ groups. Tinubu ordered a large-scale recruitment drive across the security forces,…

The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has concluded a two-day intensive training for its investigators with a renewed commitment to strengthen ethical conduct, curb abuse of office and improve accountability in public service investigations. The workshop, held between November 18 and 19 at the Centre for Management Development (CMD) in Lagos, brought together staff from key operational departments of the Commission. It was facilitated by Skytech Analytics Nigeria Limited. Declaring the programme open, facilitators said the training became necessary amid rising concerns over unethical practices, conflicts of interest and declining public trust in government investigations. During the opening session, Mr. Tolulope…

Amnesty International has warned that Nigeria risks “losing a generation” of children as escalating school abductions in the North continue to force mass shutdowns of learning institutions across seven states. The global human rights organisation issued the warning following the recent mass kidnapping of more than 300 pupils and teachers at St. Mary’s School, Papiri in Niger State, and the abduction of 25 schoolgirls in Maga, Kebbi State. The wave of attacks has prompted the indefinite closure of 20,468 schools across Bauchi, Benue, Kwara, Plateau, Niger, Yobe and Katsina states—deepening what education advocates say is the country’s worst learning crisis…

Former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase, on Wednesday raised fresh concerns over the integrity of Nigeria’s security recruitment processes, revealing that Boko Haram members and armed robbers were once discovered among shortlisted candidates for the Army and Police. Wase, who made the disclosure during a special plenary session of the House dedicated to the country’s worsening security crisis, said the infiltration posed a severe danger to national stability. According to him, the alarming discovery was not speculative. He insisted that a former Chairman of the House Committee on Defence, now Chairman of the Committee on the…

The Lagos State Police Command has stopped a planned Egungun festival in the Oregun area of the state, declaring the event illegal and a threat to public peace. Twelve suspects have been arrested in connection with handbills, posters and social media publications allegedly issued by a group identified as Oje Parapo of Oregun. The Command, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said the organisers circulated materials that attempted to restrict the movement and rights of residents ahead of the festival scheduled for November 27 and 28. Adebisi said the content of the handbills and…

… Lawmakers Move To Classify Kidnapping As Terrorism … Amendment To Terrorism Act To Impose Mandatory Execution Daud Olatunji  The Senate on Wednesday adopted a decisive and hard-line position against Nigeria’s growing kidnap epidemic, proposing the death penalty for anyone convicted of the crime. During plenary, the upper chamber resolved to classify kidnapping as an act of terrorism and urged the Federal Government to immediately amend the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act to make execution the mandatory punishment for offenders. Lawmakers said the drastic measure had become necessary as abductions continue to surge across the country, destroying lives, crippling communities…

Armed bandits in the early hours of Wednesday attacked Kiri High School in Aiyetoro Kiri, Kabba Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, but all abducted students were rescued following a swift response by local vigilantes. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the attackers stormed the community around midnight, attempting to seize students from their hostels before members of the Kiri Vigilante Group mobilised to confront them. Residents said the vigilantes engaged the gunmen in a fierce exchange, forcing the assailants to abandon the students and flee into nearby bushes. However, the rescue came at a heavy cost. One vigilante was reportedly…