Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria (BON) has joined other prominent voices across the country in mourning the demise of the Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba (Dr) Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR, describing his transition as “the passing of a sovereign.” In a condolence message signed by its Executive Secretary, Dr. Yemisi Bamgbose, and issued on Monday, BON said Oba Adetona’s death signalled the end of a glorious era, given his long, impactful reign that began before Nigeria’s independence in 1960. “The ancestral transition of the revered monarch of Ijebuland, His Royal Majesty Oba (Dr) Kayode Adetona, Ogbagba II, the…

…as outgoing president bows out after transformative tenure By Balqees Adeniji The Abeokuta Grammar School Old Boys’ Association (AGSOBA) on Monday rolled out the drums to mark the 117th Founders’ Day of the prestigious institution, celebrating its historic legacy and unveiling ambitious plans for the future. The event, held at the AGSOBA Hall on the school premises, brought together notable alumni, school authorities, and stakeholders in education, as the association’s outgoing President General, Otunba Sunday Olurotimi, delivered his final press briefing in office. Reflecting on the institution’s illustrious past, Olurotimi described Abeokuta Grammar School, founded in 1908, as a cradle…

The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba, has  inaugurated two Appeal Tribunal Panels to handle petitions arising from the just-concluded local government elections, with a stern warning that any decision taken outside the stipulated legal time frame would be null and void. The inauguration, which took place at the Ikeja High Court Conference Room, marks the judiciary’s readiness to swiftly adjudicate electoral disputes and safeguard the integrity of the council polls held across the state on Saturday. Justice Alogba announced the establishment of two divisions of the tribunal — one each in Lagos Island and Ikeja…

The Federal Government has declared Tuesday, July 15, as a public holiday to honour the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who will be laid to rest in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. This announcement comes as tributes continue to pour in for the late Nigerian leader who passed away on Sunday after a protracted illness. His burial, scheduled for Tuesday, will follow Islamic rites and is expected to attract dignitaries from across Nigeria and beyond. In a statement issued late Monday, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the holiday was declared to allow Nigerians to mourn and…

Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, has launched a scathing attack on his predecessor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, describing his eight-year tenure as the “worst in Osun State’s history.” Adeleke’s outburst followed a recent statement credited to Aregbesola during a political rally, where the former governor vowed to wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2026 through the African Democratic Congress (ADC). In a strongly worded statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, Governor Adeleke berated Aregbesola for what he called “a legacy of ruin” and accused him of plunging the state into debt, abandoning critical projects, and…

…Subsidy hit N633.3bn in Q1 alone as tariff freeze widened gap Daud Olatunji The Federal Government of Nigeria spent a staggering ₦1.94 trillion on electricity subsidies in 2024, according to a new report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). PLATFORM TIMES reports that the amount represents 62.59 percent of the total electricity invoice issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Plc for the year, with an average monthly subsidy cost of ₦161.85 billion. The NERC’s 2024 annual report, released on Monday, attributes the sharp rise in subsidy expenditure to the government’s policy of maintaining electricity tariffs at the…

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has revealed plans to establish what he describes as the biggest and deepest seaport in Nigeria at Olokola in Ogun State — a project that signals his full industrial return to the location once abandoned due to a dispute with state authorities. Speaking in a recent interview with Bloomberg, the President of Dangote Group disclosed that he has formally submitted the necessary documents for regulatory approval to commence the ambitious Atlantic seaport development. The proposed port is expected to significantly ease the export of goods, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), and catalyze the growth of…

Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State on Monday stirred controversy after arriving six hours late to the graveside of the late Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona, during his final burial rites in Ijebu-Ode. The Islamic rites for the revered monarch commenced at 12:00 p.m. with top dignitaries and government functionaries in attendance. However, Governor Abiodun, who was expected to lead the state and federal delegation to the solemn occasion, did not show up until 6:00 p.m., long after the major rites had  almost  concluded. His late arrival sparked reactions, especially as social media footage showed him at the…

Human rights lawyer and former Chairman of Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission, Prof. Chidi Odinkalu, has issued a stinging rebuke to Nigerian politicians who seek medical treatment abroad while leaving the country’s healthcare system in shambles. Odinkalu’s remarks followed the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari, who passed away on Sunday in a London hospital after a prolonged illness. In a strongly worded post shared on Sunday, July 13, the vocal rights advocate warned Nigeria’s political elite that neglecting the country’s healthcare infrastructure comes at a grave personal cost. “Nigeria’s current rulers may need to be reminded: Those who die…

Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (retd), has revealed that he was hospitalised in the same medical facility in London alongside late former President Muhammadu Buhari before the elder statesman passed on. Abdulsalami, who shared the emotional account during an interview with Channels Television on Monday, said he had just been discharged when news of Buhari’s death broke. “Unfortunately, we were in the same hospital together. But I have been discharged,” the retired general said. “So, when I heard the news of his passing away, I quickly went there to condole the family and see what could be done…