Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Federal Government has called on Nigerians to adopt a more positive and patriotic outlook toward the country despite the challenges facing the nation. This appeal was made during a stakeholders’ engagement on the “National Anthem, Identity Project, Values Charter, and the Renewed Hope Agenda,” held in Osogbo, Osun State. Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, emphasized the power of words and urged citizens to refrain from cursing or speaking negatively about Nigeria. Issa-Onilu, who was represented by the Director of Report Coordination and Improvement at the agency, Mrs.…

In a notable humanitarian gesture,a Non Governmental Organisation,  De Norsemen Kclub International has secured the release of three inmates at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The organization also paid for the examination fees of inmates preparing for the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WAEC), National Examination Council (NECO), and General Certificate of Education (GCE). This intervention took place on Tuesday, as part of the club’s annual worldwide service to humanity on October 15. Speaking to journalists at the event, the International President of De Norsemen Kclub, Chief Engr. Chidi Bishop Anokwu, explained that the club’s…

Daud Olatunji Health workers at the Federal Medical Center (FMC), Abeokuta, have downed tools following the brutal assault on two nurses and a doctor by a patient’s relative. The incident occurred on Tuesday night and spread to Wednesday morning at the hospital’s accident and emergency unit, sparking outrage among staff and leading to a strike action by the hospital’s nursing association. PLATFORM TIMES reports that such incident has been recurring at the hospital which had forged the Nigerian Medical Association dragging a family to court . The latest reportedly involved three health workers ;a doctor and two nurses at the…

In a significant move to cushion the economic hardship faced by millions of Nigerians, the Federal Government has announced plans to expand its social intervention programmes to directly support 20 million citizens. This initiative, part of a broader economic strategy, comes on the back of a substantial increase in government revenue, which saw a record N9.1 trillion generated in the first quarter of 2024, more than double the N4.06 trillion earned during the same period in 2023. Wale Edun, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, revealed the government’s ambitious plans at the 30th Nigeria Economic Summit…

Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, has issued a stark warning regarding the country’s judiciary, citing the staggering number of unresolved cases and the lack of timely judgments from some judges as serious threats to judicial integrity. Speaking at the third annual National Judicial Council (NJC) conference on judges’ performance evaluation in Abuja on Tuesday, Kekere-Ekun emphasized that public confidence in the judiciary is at risk if these alarming trends continue. In her address, the CJN highlighted the concerning backlog, revealing that as of the first quarter of 2024, Nigeria’s superior courts of record—excluding the Supreme Court—had accumulated a…

The Oyo State Government and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have renewed calls for the adoption of proper handwashing practices as a key measure to prevent the spread of diseases. This advocacy was made at an event held in Okolo, Ibarapa-East Local Government, to mark the 2024 Global Handwashing Day, themed “Why are Clean Hands Still Important?” Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (OYORUWASSA), Mr. Babalola Afobaje, stressed the life-saving importance of handwashing with soap, labeling it as an essential health practice. According to Afobaje, consistent handwashing helps prevent…

A dramatic scene unfolded on Tuesday at the Abaji cattle market in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, when a suspected thief abandoned a stolen ram and fled after spotting its rightful owner in the crowd. The incident, which took place around 11:12 a.m., involved a yet-to-be-identified man who allegedly stole the ram from a Fulani settlement in Adagba village, within the council area. According to an eyewitness, Shuaibu Ibrahim, the suspect had taken the ram earlier in the day and brought it to the market in an attempt to sell it. Ibrahim recounted how the ram’s owner, upon discovering one…

The National Industrial Court in Ibadan has ordered Nestlé Nigeria PLC to pay N10 million as compensation to an employee, Ilesanmi Temokun, who suffered severe injuries on the company’s premises due to negligence. This landmark ruling underscores the importance of workplace safety and employers’ responsibility in ensuring a hazard-free environment. Justice John Peters, in delivering the judgment on Tuesday, affirmed that Nestlé Nigeria PLC was negligent, leading to the accident that left Temokun with long-term health issues. The incident occurred on September 4, 2021, when an unsecured iron locker fell on the 35-year-old employee, causing serious injuries, including spinal shock.…

In a heated Senate plenary session on Tuesday, Senator Sumaila Abdulrahman-Kawu (NNPP, Kano South) stirred controversy by daring his fellow lawmakers to swear on the Quran or Bible if they do not support drug abusers in their constituencies. The senator made this bold statement while contributing to the debate on the second reading of “A Bill for an Act to Establish National Institute for Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation,” sponsored by Senator Rufa’i Hanga (NNPP, Kano Central). The bill, which aims to establish a national institute to combat drug abuse, raise awareness, and rehabilitate drug users, seeks to further tackle the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has confirmed its involvement in the controversial invasion of Urban Radio 94.5FM in Enugu State on Monday, October 14, 2024. The raid was aimed at apprehending Favour Ekoh, the host of the station’s Prime Time program, who is being investigated for her alleged role in a Ponzi scheme amounting to N700 million. According to a statement released by the EFCC’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Dele Oyewale, Ekoh is implicated in defrauding around 50 victims through a scheme called “Life Trading,” orchestrated by a company known as Leverage Index Limited. The victims…