Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has been commended for his pivotal role in securing the Certificate of Occupancy for the Navy Forward Operational Base in Abigi, Ogun Waterside Local Government.  The Senate Committee on Navy, chaired by Senator Gbenga Daniel, confirmed that the base will be constructed with a funding allocation of two billion naira (N2 billion), secured in the 2024 Appropriation.  Daniel in a letter addressed to Abiodun said the  funding was facilitated through the backing of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Daniel expressed profound gratitude for the Governor’s efforts in…

The Guardian Newspaper has publicly apologised to Senator Ibikunle Amosun, former Governor of Ogun State, for publishing what it has now admitted was a “malicious and defamatory” article regarding the siting of the Dangote Refinery. The Guardian’s apology follows a controversial piece titled “A Sunday with Aliko Dangote,” which appeared in its edition of July 20-21, 2024.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that The article alleged that the Dangote Refinery, now situated in Lagos State, could not be established in Ogun State due to unethical demands made by the state government under Amosun’s leadership.  The publication went as far as to imply…

Daud Olatunji  In a significant stride towards enhancing operational standards and reinforcing its dedication to quality management, Egbin Power Plc, Nigeria’s largest power generation company, has achieved a notable milestone by securing three prestigious ISO certifications.  The certifications include ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational Health & Safety Management System), ISO 14001:2015 (Environment Management System), and ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System), stressing  the company’s commitment to excellence in the power sector. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  certifications, recognized globally, are a testament to Egbin Power’s rigorous adherence to international best practices and its unwavering dedication to creating a safe, healthy, and sustainable operational…

A Nigerian soldier, identified as Warrant Officer Suleiman, has been brutally attacked by a group of bandits who also abducted his wife and son in the Sabon Wuse area of Tafa Local Government Area, Niger State. The incident, which occurred at Suleiman’s residence on Tuesday, August 6, 2024, has left the community in shock and fear.  Eyewitnesses reported that the attackers, armed with sophisticated weapons, stormed the house around midnight, subjecting the soldier to a brutal assault before taking away his family members. A source close to the family confirmed that Suleiman is currently receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital…

Former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, has called on President Bola Tinubu to convene a National Constituent Assembly to draft a new constitution for Nigeria.  Anyaoku, who also serves as the Chairman of The Patriots, made this proposal during a meeting with the President at the State House in Abuja. Anyaoku revealed that the proposal was one of several recommendations put forward during the discussion, urging President Tinubu to submit an executive bill to the National Assembly.  According to Anyaoku, this bill should initiate two critical measures aimed at addressing Nigeria’s constitutional challenges. “We put some proposals to Mr. President…

An airplane carrying 58 passengers and four crew crashed Friday in Brazil’s Sao Paulo state, killing everyone on board, local officials said. The aircraft, a French-made ATR 72-500 operated by the airline Voepass, was traveling from Cascavel in southern Parana state to Sao Paulo’s Guarulhos international airport when it crashed in the city of Vinhedo. Images broadcast on local media showed a large plane nosediving at high speed, while others showed a large column of smoke rising from the crash site in what appeared to be a residential area. “There were no survivors,” the city government in Valinhos — which…

The Nigeria Police Force has called for greater public understanding of the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating terrorism and other crimes across the country.  The Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, stated  that while the police are committed to apprehending criminals, it is unrealistic to expect all terrorists to be arrested simultaneously. In a post on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Adejobi urged Nigerians to recognize the efforts made by the police in securing arrests, despite the daunting scale of the task.  “We can’t apprehend all the criminals at once. At least, appreciate us for the ones…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has refuted claims that President Bola Tinubu’s administration distributed N570 billion as a handout to the 36 states of the federation.  The clarification follows President Tinubu’s nationwide broadcast on Sunday, in which he announced the release of over N570 billion to the states to bolster livelihood support amidst nationwide protests against hunger and corruption. In his address, President Tinubu stated, “Also, more than N570 billion has been released to the 36 states to expand livelihood support to their citizens, while 600,000 nano-businesses have benefitted from our nano-grants. An additional 400,000 more nano-businesses are expected…

Deborah Hundenu The World Bank Group, in its recent data, has disclosed that former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, and Goodluck Jonathan left a sum of $10.6 billion in loans. Obasanjo governed between 1999 and 2007, Yar’Adua between 2007 and 2010, until his death, after which Dr. Goodluck Jonathan took over and governed between 2010 and 2015. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the leaders who governed the country between 1999 and 2015 left this huge debt for the nation. This revelation comes amid growing concerns over Nigeria’s ballooning national debt, which stood at N121.67 trillion ($91.46 billion) as…

Nigerian business mogul Tony Elumelu has accused former President Muhammadu Buhari and his late chief of staff, Abba Kyari, of obstructing his company’s attempt to purchase an oilfield despite raising substantial funds for the deal.  Elumelu, who heads Heirs Holdings, disclosed this during an interview with the Financial Times, shedding light on a contentious decision made by the previous administration. According to Elumelu, his investment firm had approached the Buhari administration around 2017 with a proposal to acquire an oilfield, offering a substantial sum of approximately $2.5 billion.  Despite the significant financial commitment, the offer was turned down by Buhari…