Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State on Thursday presented the 2025 Budget proposal tagged the “Budget of Sustainability” to the Lagos State House of Assembly. The budget, pegged at N3.005 trillion, emphasizes balanced growth through sustainability, with a significant focus on capital projects and social development. Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the proposed budget comprises a total revenue of N2.597 trillion and a deficit financing plan of N408.902 billion, to be sourced through external and internal loans and bonds. The total revenue is projected to include N1.97 trillion from internally generated revenue and N626.137 billion from federal transfers. The budget reflects a…

Ogun State is set to host over 15,000 athletes and officials at the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, tagged “2024 Gateway Games,” slated to hold in January next year. This was revealed by the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and former Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC), Mr. Bukola Olopade, following a high-level meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun and Premium Trust Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Emmanuel Emefienim, at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta. Olopade highlighted that the LOC is working diligently to ensure that the festival achieves a new milestone by creating an…

The Cross River Judicial Service Commission has suspended four magistrates over allegations of corruption, falsification of records, judicial incompetence, drunkenness, and dereliction of duty. The Secretary of the Commission, Peter Ene, announced the disciplinary action in a statement on Thursday. He disclosed that the affected magistrates are Ushie Ushang of Port Court, Calabar; Gabriel Ebebe of the Chief Magistrate Court, Edor, Ikom; Gabriel Agana of the Chief Magistrates Court, Effraya, Ikom; and Shadrach Orji of the Chief Magistrates Court 1, Ogoja. The commission found the magistrates guilty of various acts of misconduct, leading to their suspension without pay. In addition…

Ireland’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Peter Ryan, has assured the management of the African School of Economics (ASE) of his country’s commitment to supporting the Pan-African University of Excellence in achieving its vision of educational and entrepreneurial transformation. During a courtesy visit to the ASE campus in Abuja on Wednesday, Ambassador Ryan emphasized Ireland’s readiness to explore collaborative opportunities that would foster education, entrepreneurship, and cultural exchange between Irish universities and ASE. “Our shared goals align in promoting education and cultural exchange,” Ryan stated. “Ireland’s passionate commitment to advancing education is rooted in our belief that we control our freedom…

Awe Ayomide The former governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party in Ogun State, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, has accused Governor Dapo Abiodun of mismanaging over N214 billion allocated to local governments in the state over the past five years. Adebutu made this allegation during a press briefing held in Abeokuta on Wednesday, where he also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene. According to Adebutu, the alleged mismanagement has left grassroots development in the state stagnant, with no significant projects to show for the funds. He claimed that under previous administrations, local governments were actively involved in constructing rural roads,…

… They Remain Awori Guests,Not Indigenes- Olota Ibrahim Olamilekan & Uthman Akinola Tensions are escalating in Ogun State as the Gbalefa Traditional Council of Baales in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government has accused the Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege, of encroaching on their lands and attempting to assert control over Egba/Egbado communities. The chiefs have called on the state Governor, Dapo Abiodun to intervene swiftly to avert a potential crisis. Speaking at a press conference in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the General Secretary of the Gbalefa Traditional Council, Chief Olaniyi Mosaku, alleged that the Olota has been illegally installing Baales in…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has announced the disbursement of N1.41 trillion among the federal, state, and local governments for October 2024, marking an increase of N113 billion from the N1.29 trillion shared in September. The allocation was disclosed in a communique issued on Wednesday after the FAAC’s monthly meeting chaired by the Accountant-General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein. The meeting followed the 2024 National Council on Finance and Economic Development (NACOFED) hosted by the Bauchi State Government. According to the communique, the total gross revenue for October stood at N2.668 trillion. The distributable revenue comprised gross statutory revenue…

Daud Olatunji Over the past five years, Nigeria has grappled with the devastating impacts of climate change, suffering significant losses in human lives, properties, and economic assets. Data from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other related agencies reveal a grim picture of escalating natural disasters fueled by global warming, poor environmental policies, and insufficient disaster preparedness. Between 2020 and 2024, climate-related events have cost the nation billions of naira, displaced millions, and left trails of destruction in nearly every region. … Floods: A Recurring Nightmare Among the most catastrophic events were the floods that wreaked havoc across Nigeria.…

Daud Olatunji At the heart of the ongoing United Nations Climate Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan, Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made a compelling case for climate justice. Addressing over 60,000 delegates gathered to tackle the global climate crisis, Lawal declared, “Our people are suffering for emissions they did not create.” His words underscored the unequal burden borne by nations like Nigeria, which contribute minimally to global emissions yet face the brunt of climate change’s devastating impacts. … A Crisis Rooted in Injustice Nigeria, like much of Africa, accounts for less than 4% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, the…

Professor Victor Makinde, a distinguished scholar in Applied Geophysics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), has sounded an alarm over unregulated borehole drilling in Nigeria, warning that the practice could trigger environmental disasters and public health crises. Delivering FUNAAB’s 95th Inaugural Lecture on Wednesday, titled “Beneath the Waves: Resolving Ambiguities in the Petrologic Supermarket,” Prof. Makinde urged the government to establish robust regulatory frameworks to monitor borehole drilling activities. He emphasized the necessity for mandatory registration of all borehole projects by organizations and drillers, which he said would ensure accountability and maintain high standards in water sourcing. “Groundwater…