Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) is facing widespread allegations of extortion as passport applicants in Lagos accuse officials of demanding an unofficial fee of N30,000 for passport renewals. The illegal fee, which is reportedly being collected after the stipulated N130,000 official payment for the renewal and change of data, has sparked outrage among Nigerians. An applicant, while speaking with SaharaReporters, recounted his ordeal with immigration officers at the NIS office in Alausa, Lagos. According to him, after paying the required N130,000 as advertised on the NIS website, he was instructed to pay an additional N30,000, which is not legally mandated.…

Daud Olatunji Crescent University, Abeokuta, marked its 16th convocation with remarkable achievements, graduating 479 students, including 49 first-class honorees. The event, which highlighted the institution’s academic excellence, also saw the conferment of honorary degrees on three distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions to society. The convocation’s highlight was the academic breakdown of the graduating class: 49 first-class graduates, 197 second-class upper division, 173 second-class lower division, 54 third-class graduates, and six who earned pass grades. The ceremony also witnessed the graduation of 47 Master’s degree students. The ceremony honoured Daniel Oyeniyi, the best graduating student, who achieved a 4.95 CGPA,…

Daud Olatunji The Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has urged the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, to take decisive action in recovering over $55 billion owed to the Nigerian government by international oil companies (IOCs). This significant sum is tied to outstanding revenues under the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Act, as ruled by the Supreme Court in 2018. HEDA’s call, communicated through a formal letter by its solicitor, Bolarinwa Elijah Aidi, SAN, draws attention to the Supreme Court’s judgment in Suit No. SC/964/2016. The judgment, delivered on October 17,…

Abubakar Badaru, the minister of defence, has urged traditional rulers, religious and community leaders, and heads of security agencies, to work towards tackling the growing insecurity in Plateau. Mr Badaru, who gave the charge at a meeting with the stakeholders, said the gathering was aimed at fashioning out lasting solutions to the rising security challenges, particularly the clashes between herders and farmers. ”I am highly delighted to be here this afternoon to interact with the critical stakeholders, opinion leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and other components of the military and security agencies responsible for peace and security in Plateau. ”The…

Tony Okocha, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Rivers Caretaker Committee chairman, said on Sunday in Abuja that President Bola Tinubu’s ministers were not adding value to the current administration. Okocha said this while speaking at the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) news forum, where he stated that Mr Tinubu’s achievements were grossly underreported and there was a need for his ministers to do more to enlighten Nigerians on the administration’s successes. “President Tinubu’s achievements are not in the public domain because most of his ministers failed to do the needful and are not adding value to the administration and the…

The Sokoto State Police Command has arrested an 18-year-old boy, Abba Aliyu, in connection with the kidnapping of a two-year-old child. Aliyu, a neighbour of the victim’s family, was apprehended after demanding a ransom of N2 million and successfully extorting N500,000 from the family before the child was released. Aliyu, a resident of the Badon Hanya area in Sokoto, was identified as the prime suspect in the abduction. The police revealed details of the arrest in a statement issued on Saturday by the state command’s spokesman, ASP Ahmed Rufai. According to Rufai, the ordeal began on October 13, 2024, when…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated plans to exempt baby products, locally manufactured sanitary towels, pads, and tampons from Value Added Tax (VAT). This proposal is part of a comprehensive bill aimed at consolidating the country’s tax framework. The bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Repeal Certain Acts on Taxation and Consolidate the Legal Frameworks relating to Taxation and Enact the Nigeria Tax Act to Provide for Taxation of Income, Transactions and Instruments, and Related Matters,” was presented to the National Assembly on October 4, 2024. It outlines the government’s tax strategy and its approach to fund…

Daud Olatunji The 2024 federal budget has sparked controversy as food and catering allocations for the State House, including the offices of the President and Vice President, soared to N845.07 million, marking a significant 20% increase from previous years. This revelation has raised concerns over government expenditure amidst Nigeria’s ongoing economic challenges. A breakdown of the budget shows that the State House administration allocated N253.27m, the office of the President earmarked N254.27m, and the office of the Vice President set aside N337.52m for food and catering in 2024. In comparison, the 2022 and 2023 allocations for food remained static at…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has addressed speculations regarding his 2027 presidential ambition, stating that he’s old enough to declare his intentions when the time comes. Mr Makinde made this known to reporters at Fashola Farm in Ibadan on Saturday after the Peoples Democratic Party retreat. The governor stressed that nobody could push his political agenda, adding that he would announce his intentions explicitly. He recalled his 2019 governorship election where he was considered an outsider without political experience, stating that the people of Oyo State gave him a chance. He highlighted his infrastructural projects and declared that he had…

The Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, has urged President Bola Tinubu to exercise caution in adopting the World Bank’s recommendations on economic reforms, warning of potential adverse effects on Nigerians. The warning was issued on Saturday in Ibadan by Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, Jare Ajayi, as the group expressed concern over recent advice from the global financial institution. Afenifere’s caution follows the World Bank’s recommendation to reduce government spending on social services, which the group fears could lead to further hardship for the populace. The statement comes in response to the World Bank’s call for Nigeria to sustain economic reforms over…