Author: Platform Times Newspaper

 Daud Olatunji The Ogun State House of Assembly has ordered the arrest and compulsory appearance of the Managing Director of Ojibas Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Tajudeen Abioye, over alleged large-scale environmental degradation caused by the company’s mining operations in the Elegan Progressive Community, Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state. The Assembly, at its plenary on Thursday, directed the State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, to immediately produce the embattled managing director before the lawmakers to answer to allegations of environmental destruction and endangerment of lives and livelihoods of residents in the affected communities. The order followed the adoption of…

… Urges End To Hostile Transitions, Prayers For Peaceful Handover in 2027 Daud Olatunji  Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, has warned that Ogun State may continue to suffer developmental setbacks unless the recurring pattern of hostility between successive administrations ends. Isola, who spoke during a Twitter Space session last week  Wednesday, said the state had been trapped in a cycle of political vendetta since 1999, preventing continuity in governance and frustrating sustainable development efforts. According to him, no Ogun governor has ever handed over power peacefully to a successor since the return of…

Lafarge Africa Plc has posted a remarkable 63 percent revenue growth for the first nine months of 2025, with sales hitting N780.48 billion, up from N479.49 billion recorded in the same period of 2024. The company’s Profit After Tax (PAT) also soared by 246 percent, rising to N207.78 billion from N60.08 billion in the corresponding period of 2024 — a performance the cement maker attributed to higher sales volumes, improved efficiency, and a more stable naira. According to the company’s financial statement released on Wednesday, cost of sales rose by 34 percent to N324.36 billion, while administrative and selling expenses…

…Woos broadcasters on voter education, misinformation battle The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has called for stronger collaboration with media organisations to promote voter education, strengthen transparency, and deepen democratic values across Nigeria. This call was made on Wednesday when the management team of Vicinity 95.3 FM, Ikeji Ile, Ijesa, paid a courtesy visit to the Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Olaleke Agboke, at the Commission’s state headquarters. Speaking during the visit, the General Manager of Vicinity FM, Mr. Akolade Adekola, said the station was committed to supporting INEC’s mandate through responsible reportage, civic enlightenment, and sustained…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osogbo, on Thursday hosted students of Ebunoluwa International School, Osogbo, in an educational excursion aimed at deepening their understanding of Nigeria’s electoral process and democratic institutions. The visit, held at the INEC Osun State office, exposed the students to the Commission’s structure, functions, and operational mechanisms. It also featured an interactive session with the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr. Mutiu Olaleke Agboke, who personally addressed the students and their teachers. Speaking during the session, Dr. Agboke highlighted INEC’s constitutional mandate, operational responsibilities, and commitment to conducting transparent and credible elections across the country. He…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has appointed Nigerian tech and social entrepreneur, Zephia Ovia-Ikem, as a UNICEF NextGen Champion, a role that will see her mobilize private sector leaders and innovators to advance the rights and wellbeing of children and young people across Nigeria. Announcing the appointment, Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF Representative in Nigeria, said Ovia-Ikem joins a global network of investors, philanthropists, and private sector leaders working to accelerate progress for children and youth. Ovia-Ikem, known for her active support of Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) since its launch, will spearhead advocacy and partnerships aimed at improving access to…

Twenty years after the tragic Bellview Airlines plane crash that claimed 117 lives, the Convener of The Alternative, Otunba Segun Showunmi, has decried the neglect of Lisa Village in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, calling on both the Federal and State Governments to urgently rehabilitate the road leading to the crash site and restore the overgrown memorial ground. Showunmi, in a statement issued to mark the 20th anniversary of the October 22, 2005 disaster, described the present condition of the Lisa crash site as “a national embarrassment” and a reflection of Nigeria’s poor culture of remembrance. “It is…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that it generated a record-breaking N1.86 billion from the sale of forfeited assets in 2024 — the highest amount since its creation. The commission’s spokesperson, Demola Bakare, revealed this in a statement issued on Wednesday after the 2025 meeting of the Asset Disposal Committee, which was chaired by ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu (SAN). According to the report presented by the Proceeds of Crime Department (POCD), the 2024 asset disposal exercise involved 23 assets, out of which 10 were successfully auctioned in December 2024, generating the bulk of…

Popular gospel musician and broadcaster, Dr. Yinka Ayefele (MON), has revealed that he was subjected to years of intense scrutiny by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) before he was finally granted a licence to operate Fresh FM, one of the most successful private radio networks in the Southwest. Speaking at a press conference held on Wednesday at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, to commence activities marking Fresh FM’s 10th anniversary, Ayefele said the process of obtaining the broadcast licence lasted seven years and involved extensive background checks on…

… Opposition Warns Proposal Threatens Multiparty Democracy … Critics Say Move Violates Citizens’ Constitutional Right A heated controversy erupted on Wednesday as leading opposition figures and pro-democracy advocates rejected a proposal before the Senate seeking to limit Nigeria’s political parties to a maximum of 10, describing it as unconstitutional and dangerous to democratic growth. The contentious suggestion, made by Senator Muntari Dandutse (Katsina South) during plenary debate on “A Bill for an Act to Repeal the Electoral Act, No. 13, 2022 and Enact the Electoral Bill, 2025,” has sparked outrage across political circles. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the INEC recognized…