Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government has mandated all public and private healthcare facilities across Nigeria to provide immediate treatment to gunshot victims without requiring police clearance. This directive, issued by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, was made public on Saturday via a statement on its official X handle. The statement, titled Non-Compliance of Medical Facilities on the Gunshot Act 2017, was signed by the ministry’s Director of Information, Patricia Deworitshe. The ministry expressed concerns over reports of hospitals rejecting gunshot victims due to the absence of police reports, leading to preventable deaths. The directive follows instructions from the Coordinating Minister…

The Imo State Police Command has set up a panel to investigate the conduct of police officers who disrupted court proceedings at the Orogwe Customary Court in Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State by effecting an arrest within the courtroom. Reports indicate that the officers involved, who are attached to Ogbaku Police Station, allegedly violated protocol by arresting an individual during a court session. The incident, which has drawn widespread criticism, led to the arrest of one of the officers, Abubakar Mohammed. Confirming the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Imo State Police Command, ASP Okoye, stated…

A Nigerian woman, identified as Mrs. Zanga, has narrated the tragic story of her cousin who reportedly died after refusing a blood transfusion due to her religious beliefs as a member of the Jehovah’s Witness church. In a post shared on X (formerly Twitter), Mrs. Zanga disclosed that the deceased, a mother of three, succumbed to health complications on Friday, December 6. The youngest of her children is said to be four years old. According to the post, the deceased’s refusal of the life-saving procedure was based on the Jehovah’s Witness doctrine, which prohibits its members from accepting blood transfusions.…

The pan-Yoruba socio-cultural organization, Afenifere, has called for calm and respect for the rule of law as the courts deliberate on the criminal defamation case involving legal practitioner Mr. Dele Farotimi and renowned Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Afe Babalola. The case stems from a petition filed by Chief Babalola, who alleges that certain passages in Farotimi’s 104-page book, Nigeria and its Criminal Justice, defame him. Following the complaint, the Nigeria Police filed defamation charges against Farotimi. Speaking on the matter, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Comrade Jare Ajayi, emphasized the importance of allowing the judiciary to handle the case without…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has projected that no fewer than 213 million children across the globe will require lifesaving aid in 2025. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this development reveals  the alarming surge in humanitarian emergencies affecting the world’s youngest and most vulnerable population. The agency revealed that it would need $9.9 billion in funding to reach 109 million children across 146 countries with critical assistance. The fund will be channeled towards addressing multiple crises, including conflicts, climate shocks, displacement, and health emergencies anticipated in the coming year. UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell described the scale of children’s humanitarian…

The Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 2, South-West Lagos, has intercepted contraband goods worth N36 billion, including six pump-action rifles and 1,125 live cartridges, since its inception in August 2019. The team’s coordinator, Mohammed Shuaibu, a Deputy Controller of Customs, disclosed this during a media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday. He revealed that the latest interception involved pump-action rifles and cartridges concealed in a sack of cassava flakes along the Okerete-Ododo bush path in Oyo State. Shuaibu explained that the firearms, loaded in a Toyota saloon car, were seized last week as part of the team’s ongoing operations to…

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, will officially retire on Monday, December 9, 2024, after a distinguished 35-year career with the Nigeria Police Force. A ceremonial pull-out parade has been scheduled to mark the occasion at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, via her official handle on X. According to the statement, the event will be followed by a reception for invited guests at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. Reflecting on his years of service,…

The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that the recently detected XEC COVID-19 variant, identified in Australia and 28 other countries, has not been reported in the country. This clarification followed the circulation of a leaked letter from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which raised concerns about the possible presence of the variant in Nigeria. The ministry explained that the letter, dated December 5, 2024, was precautionary and aimed at enhancing the nation’s preparedness amid increased global travel during the festive season. Speaking on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kachollum Daju,…

Nigerian entrepreneur and digital inclusion advocate, David Onilude, has been awarded the globally renowned Diana Award, an accolade recognizing exceptional young leaders for their social action and humanitarian work. The 23-year-old founder of Tech Now Global joins an elite group of changemakers celebrated for their contributions to community development and innovation. The Diana Award, named in honour of the late Princess Diana, is awarded annually to individuals aged 9-25 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to social and humanitarian causes. Marking its 25th anniversary this year, Kensington Palace praised recipients for their dedication to inspiring change and uplifting communities. In a statement,…

The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (OGSMPWB) has announced the disbursement of N75,617,040 as refunds to 1,238 pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj. A statement  issued by the  Press Officer, MPWB, Mariam Yusuf, disclosed that the  refund, approved by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah through the National Hajj Commission, is for services not fully rendered during the pilgrims’ stay in Mina. She added that the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Taiwo Ajibola, said  each pilgrim will receive N61,080 as compensation. Ajibola commended the efforts of the National Hajj Commission and the Saudi Ministry of…