Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  has said that his government has taken some  measures to  reduce Nigeria’s debt service expenditure from 97% to 68 percent of revenues and cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5 billion. He said “coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. “ We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes. …

Quadri Yahya Claim:  Reports in the media quoted Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun as saying “Nigerians are sore losers”. Verdict: While the governor did make the statement that Nigerians are sore losers, the government office has cleared the air that the statement’s referent is not the general citizens but some opposition parties. Full Text:  As angry and hungry citizens protest in different parts of the country, government officials at both the federal and state levels have addressed citizens  during media and public appearances. The Ogun State governor, Dapo  Abiodun, while appearing on Channels TV on Wednesday…

A violent confrontation on Saturday left the residents of Kurna, Rijiyar Lemo, and Bachirawa quarters in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State in mourning.  Ten individuals were shot, and seven reportedly died during a protest that escalated into chaos. The unrest followed a nationwide protest on Thursday in Kano, which turned violent with widespread looting and destruction of property worth billions of naira.  In response, the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew, briefly relaxed on Friday to allow residents to observe the congregational Jumu’ah prayer from noon to 5 p.m. Defying the curfew on Saturday, youths in Kurna, Rijiyar…

The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), has released the list of six institutions that have received its disbursement of N2,026,163,340 as institutional fees. The list was released on the official X handle of the fund on Saturday. The institutions include the University of Ibadan, Bayero University, Kano, University of Ilorin, University of Benin, University of Maiduguri and Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State. The fund disbursed N853,775,000 to Bayero University, Kano, N589,001,500 to the University of Maiduguri and N304,961,800 to the Federal University, Dutsinma, Katsina State. Further details showed that the University of Ibadan got N201,114,650, the University of Ilorin…

Indigenes under the aegis of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation have called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide detailed information regarding the sale of land in the Lekki Free Trade Zone to Aliko Dangote, owner of the Dangote Refinery. This demand follows revelations by Dangote that he paid $100 million for approximately 7,000 acres to establish his $20 billion refinery, contradicting claims that the land was offered for free or at a subsidized rate. In a letter signed by the Foundation’s secretary general, the indigenes expressed their concern about the transparency of the transaction.  They questioned why the sale was not…

Tunji Bosun Protesters in Kano, Nigeria, were seen waving Russian flags and calling for the intervention of Russian President Vladimir Putin.  This demonstration is part of the ongoing nationwide #EndBadGovernance protest, which seeks to address the escalating economic hardship in the country. The protest, characterized by the slogan ‘10 Days of Rage,’ has been marred by violence, looting, and the destruction of public and private properties, especially in the northern regions.  The protesters in Kano, primarily underaged youths, defied a 24-hour curfew imposed by the state government and took to the streets, marching along Bayero University Road near the Emir’s…

 Daud Olatunji  In the first quarter of 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has  facilitated the release of $689.88 million (N903.95 billion at the official exchange rate of N1,309/$ as of March 31, 2024) for food imports. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) reported a 16.37% increase in food imports within the first six months of 2024.  The monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) data indicated that the average price index for imported food surged to 806.0 points in June 2024, up from 692.6 points in January 2024.  This month-on-month inflation rate for imported food jumped to 36.38% in…

Daud Olatunji   Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Senator Ibikunle Amosun have praised the two-year reign of the Olowu of Owu-Abeokuta kingdom, Oba (Prof.) Saka Adelola Matemilola, highlighting his significant contributions to the community’s socio-economic transformation.  Both leaders pledged to intensify their support to further enhance the progress initiated in education, health, and empowerment under the monarch’s leadership. The commendations were made during the grand finale of Oba Matemilola’s second anniversary coronation, held at Oba Odeleye Park Ori-Omi in Abeokuta.  The event witnessed a gathering of prominent Owu sons and daughters, reinforcing the call for unity and collective efforts towards the…

The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed  that nine of its officers sustained injuries, with one initially reported dead but later miraculously surviving during  the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.  This revelation came as the police disputed claims by Amnesty International that 13 civilians had been killed in the protests. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, issued a statement on Saturday addressing the allegations.  Amnesty International had reported that security personnel were using lethal tactics against protesters, resulting in the deaths of 13 civilians over the ten-day period since the protests began on August 1, 2024.  According to the human rights…

The Sultan of Sokoto and President of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’adu Abubakar III, alongside the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Archbishop Daniel Okoh, have made a fervent appeal to the #EndBadGovernance protesters to cease their demonstrations and engage in dialogue. The protests, which have seen thousands of angry youths occupying major cities such as Lagos and Abuja, began as a response to the government’s economic policies.  The nationwide movement, now in its second day, has unfortunately turned violent in several states, resulting in the loss of lives and the destruction…