Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Emmanuel Oludare In a significant move to combat the growing link between climate change and human trafficking in Nigeria, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) has partnered with the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).  PLATFORM TIMES reports that this alliance seeks to scale up awareness and address the vulnerabilities faced by displaced populations across the country, particularly those affected by climate-induced disasters such as floods. A statement by Communication Officer, NAPTIP, Vincent Adekoye, read that the collaboration, announced following a high-level meeting in Abuja between NiMET Director General, Professor Charles Anosike, and NAPTIP Director General, Binta…

Daud Olatunji Timber dealers in Ogun State have raised concerns over the rampant destruction of valuable economic trees by illegal cocoa farmers within the government-owned Omo Forest Reserve at J4.  The dealers, operating under the Ijebu Sawmillers and Timber Contractors Association, claim that the illegal activities of these cocoa farmers have resulted in an estimated loss of over N500 million annually for the state government. The association alleged that 90 percent of these illegal cocoa farmers are foreigners from states such as Benue, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Nasarawa, and Ondo.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that these individuals were reportedly armed and have…

Daud Olatunji The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Federal Government, signaling the potential for renewed industrial action if lingering issues affecting Nigeria’s public universities are not addressed.  This warning follows the government’s failure to resolve several long-standing disputes despite previous negotiations and agreements. The National Executive Council (NEC) of ASUU, following a meeting at the University of Ibadan, originally gave the government a 21-day deadline, communicated via a letter dated August 20, 2024.  However, ASUU President, Professor Emmanuel Osodeke, in a press release on September 23, 2024, stated that the government has…

Enoch Oyedibu In a surprising twist, the All Progressives Congress Governorship candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo’s emergence as the Governor of Edo State has sparked widespread debate, as data shows that his victory was secured with just 12.96% of votes from the 2.2 million accredited voters. This development is  reportedly casting doubt on whether  Okpebholo’s  mandate reflects the will of the majority of Edo’s 4.7 million population. The recently concluded gubernatorial election, hailed as a cornerstone of democracy, has instead raised critical questions about the legitimacy of its outcomes.  Despite the large number of registered voters, the majority of Edo’s population…

Daud Olatunji In a significant display of solidarity, the Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, led a delegation of prominent traditional rulers on a condolence visit to Borno State following the devastating flood that recently ravaged the state.  The flood disaster, which claimed numerous lives, destroyed properties, and displaced many residents, has left the people of Borno in grief and dire need of assistance. Arriving in Maiduguri, the Sultan, accompanied by the Etsu Nupe, His Royal Highness Alhaji Yahya Abubakar, and other notable traditional leaders, made their first stop at the Palace of the Shehu of Borno,…

By: Fawaz Adebisi The Oba Raimi road in Ibiade Tayoku quarters, Ogun waterside Local Government, Ogun state has remained in shambles for years, despite repeated allocations for four years, and the N80 million Naira reportedly spent. Over a hundred million Naira has been allocated across multiple budgets for the construction and repair of the Oba Raimi Road, however, the rehabilitation has been stalled while residents face untold hardship. This reporter visited the area and found that some parts of the road had been constructed, but major parts were left untouched, making transportation hard for residents. Only an inconsequential portion of…

The Nigeria Civil Society Situation Room has raised alarms over widespread over-voting in the recently concluded Edo State Governorship Election held on September 21, 2024.  In a detailed report released by the coalition, it was revealed that over-voting was recorded in more than 370 polling units across the state’s 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs), sparking concerns about the credibility of the electoral process. The Situation Room, a coalition of prominent civil society organisations including the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD-West Africa), Yiaga Africa, Kimpact Development Initiative (KDI), Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF), and TAF Africa, presented their findings through…

An Osun State Chief Magistrates’ Court in Osogbo, the state capital, has sentenced a 35-year-old aluminum worker, Sunday Ejoh, to six months imprisonment for stealing three tubers of yam. The court, presided over by Magistrate M. Olatunji, found Ejoh guilty of the theft, a crime he claimed was motivated by hunger and hardship. The case, which was prosecuted by Mr. Jacob Akintunde, revealed that on September 22, 2024, Ejoh unlawfully took the tubers of yam, valued at approximately N3,000, from Oluwole Durojaye, a resident of the area.  According to the prosecutor, Ejoh not only stole the yams but was also…

Commercial drivers operating in the Mowe-Ibafo-Arepo axis of the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State took to the streets on Monday, protesting an alleged hike in daily levies imposed on them by transport union members, commonly referred to as Agberos. The protesting drivers, predominantly minibus operators known locally as Korope drivers, decried the sudden increase in union levies from N4,000 to N6,000, an additional burden they described as unbearable given the current economic conditions.  According to them, the already high cost of fuel and vehicle spare parts, following the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidies, had worsened their…

The Management of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has issued a heartfelt plea to students, urging them to remain vigilant and prioritise their safety in the wake of the tragic murder of Miss Christianah Idowu, a student of the university. Christianah was killed in Lagos while returning from her internship, a loss that has deeply saddened the university community. Addressing FUNAAB Bulletin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Olukayode Akinyemi, expressed condolences to Christianah’s family and the entire student body. In a statement sent to PLATFORM TIMES by acting Head, Public Relations unit,  Olasunkanmi Olajide, the deputy VC  described the…