Author: Platform Times Newspaper

An Ogun State High Court sitting in Kobape, Abeokuta, has set November 8, 2024, for the hearing of a lawsuit filed by the National Rescue Movement (NRM) against the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC). The lawsuit challenges OGSIEC’s imposition of administrative fees on political parties participating in the upcoming local government elections. The NRM is contesting the legality of the fees—N250,000, N150,000, and N100,000—levied by OGSIEC on candidates running for various positions in the scheduled November 16, 2024, local government elections. In its originating summons (suit no: AB/741/2024), the party argues that the fees are unconstitutional and in violation…

Daud Olatunji Consultant orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Nurudeen Adekunle has denied allegations that he slapped a male nursing student at a hospital in Ogun State, clarifying that he merely reprimanded the student by asking him to leave the operating theatre. The incident, which occurred on September 24, has sparked controversy, with social media posts amplifying claims of physical assault, which Dr. Adekunle insists are untrue. In an exclusive statement, Dr. Adekunle recounted his version of events. “On my operation day, I was preparing to operate on three patients, and I took the opportunity to teach the students present, both medical and…

The Sultanate Council has dismissed rumours circulating on social media about the purported death of His Eminence, Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, the revered Sultan of Sokoto, labelling the reports as “totally false and unfounded.” According to the council’s Senior Counselor, Dr. Muhammadu Jabbi Kilgori, the rumours of Sultan Abubakar’s passing, which surfaced in a “breaking news” clip online, have no basis in reality. Dr. Kilgori clarified that the Sultan was not only alive but actively engaged in his official duties. The statement noted that on the day the false report was spread, the Sultan was seen attending a meeting of…

A new report by civic-tech organization BudgIT has revealed that 32 of Nigeria’s 36 states relied on allocations from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) for over 55 percent of their total revenue in 2023. The report, titled State of States 2024, was launched on Tuesday in Abuja and highlights the fiscal vulnerability many states face due to their reliance on federal disbursements. According to the report, Lagos and Ogun stand out as the only states less reliant on FAAC for their revenue. The findings show that federal transfers made up at least 62 percent of recurrent revenue for 34…

The World Bank Group has announced its investments in Africa hit a record $38 billion in 2024, marking the highest allocation among all regions globally. This substantial funding is part of the bank’s broader $117.5 billion commitment to tackle critical issues worldwide, as revealed in its 2024 Annual Report released at the ongoing IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings. The report highlights the bank’s intensified focus on Africa, directing $38 billion toward projects in infrastructure, healthcare, and economic reforms to support the continent’s development goals. By comparison, Europe and Central Asia received $24.7 billion, Latin America and the Caribbean $19.4 billion,…

In a bid to address long-standing nutritional challenges within the prison system, the Nigerian government has approved an increment in the daily feeding allowance for inmates to N1,150. This adjustment, set to take effect in 2025, represents a significant rise from the current N750 allocation, aligning inmate welfare with “current economic realities,” according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). Speaking to The PUNCH on Tuesday, Stephen Abene, spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Command of the NCoS, confirmed that the increase has been incorporated into the 2025 budget to improve inmate care and address the growing concern over prison conditions. “The…

The Niger State House of Assembly has sounded an alarm over the takeover of a major military training camp by bandits, an incursion that has forced residents of 23 surrounding communities to flee. The camp, located at Nagwamase cantonment in Kontagora, is one of Nigeria’s largest military training grounds and hosts artillery corps training for the Nigerian Army. During Tuesday’s plenary, Abdullahi Isah, a lawmaker representing Kontagora II State Constituency, revealed that bandits had established control over the sprawling camp, which extends from Kontagora Local Government Area to sections of Mariga Local Government Area. “This military camp is now known…

Egbin Power Plc, a leading power generation company in Nigeria, has intensified its commitment to safety and operational excellence by achieving a significant milestone in workforce development. In collaboration with the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Egbin Power recently certified 28 employees, bolstering safety standards in the company and setting a higher benchmark for the power sector. The certification process, conducted by ISPON, involved comprehensive training, assessment, and screening, leading to the induction of the 28 employees into the Institute. The event, held at the Egbin Power Plant, underscored Egbin Power’s commitment to fostering a culture of safety…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged threat to arrest, detain and prosecute him after his tenure as governor. Mr Sanwo-Olu, through his lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, filed the fundamental right enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja. When the matter was called for mention on Tuesday, Mr Ozurumba informed the court that he had withdrawn the earlier originating summons filed and replaced it with a new one. The lawyer said the anti-graft agency had been duly served with the latest court documents. However, EFCC’s counsel, Hadiza…

Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, says his company has the capacity to meet the country’s local demand and urged marketers to stop importing the product. Dangote said this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu to review the sale of crude in naira to local refiners at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday. He said the refinery had the capacity to produce over 30 million litres of crude oil daily, adding, “At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed, which I believe may be about 30.32 million litres…