Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Joint Border Patrol Team, Sector 2, South-West Lagos, has intercepted contraband goods worth N36 billion, including six pump-action rifles and 1,125 live cartridges, since its inception in August 2019. The team’s coordinator, Mohammed Shuaibu, a Deputy Controller of Customs, disclosed this during a media briefing in Ikeja, Lagos, on Friday. He revealed that the latest interception involved pump-action rifles and cartridges concealed in a sack of cassava flakes along the Okerete-Ododo bush path in Oyo State. Shuaibu explained that the firearms, loaded in a Toyota saloon car, were seized last week as part of the team’s ongoing operations to…

The Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Abiodun Alamutu, will officially retire on Monday, December 9, 2024, after a distinguished 35-year career with the Nigeria Police Force. A ceremonial pull-out parade has been scheduled to mark the occasion at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Saturday by the state’s Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, via her official handle on X. According to the statement, the event will be followed by a reception for invited guests at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. Reflecting on his years of service,…

The Federal Government has reassured Nigerians that the recently detected XEC COVID-19 variant, identified in Australia and 28 other countries, has not been reported in the country. This clarification followed the circulation of a leaked letter from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, which raised concerns about the possible presence of the variant in Nigeria. The ministry explained that the letter, dated December 5, 2024, was precautionary and aimed at enhancing the nation’s preparedness amid increased global travel during the festive season. Speaking on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Kachollum Daju,…

Nigerian entrepreneur and digital inclusion advocate, David Onilude, has been awarded the globally renowned Diana Award, an accolade recognizing exceptional young leaders for their social action and humanitarian work. The 23-year-old founder of Tech Now Global joins an elite group of changemakers celebrated for their contributions to community development and innovation. The Diana Award, named in honour of the late Princess Diana, is awarded annually to individuals aged 9-25 who demonstrate outstanding commitment to social and humanitarian causes. Marking its 25th anniversary this year, Kensington Palace praised recipients for their dedication to inspiring change and uplifting communities. In a statement,…

The Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board (OGSMPWB) has announced the disbursement of N75,617,040 as refunds to 1,238 pilgrims who participated in the 2023 Hajj. A statement  issued by the  Press Officer, MPWB, Mariam Yusuf, disclosed that the  refund, approved by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah through the National Hajj Commission, is for services not fully rendered during the pilgrims’ stay in Mina. She added that the Executive Secretary of the Board, Alhaji Taiwo Ajibola, said  each pilgrim will receive N61,080 as compensation. Ajibola commended the efforts of the National Hajj Commission and the Saudi Ministry of…

Daud Olatunji The Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, has described Nigeria’s criminal justice system as weak, sick, and in dire need of a comprehensive overhaul. Egbetokun made the statement on Thursday during the 2024 Annual Lecture/Award Ceremony organized by the Crime Reporters Association of Nigeria (CRAN). He likened the current state of the justice system to that of a sick patient requiring urgent medical intervention. “Like a sick person who seeks medical help from a doctor, the nation’s criminal justice system also needs to be revived,” Egbetokun stated. The IGP, represented by the Force Public Relations Officer,…

Oluwagbemiga Olayinka Babatunde, a first-class graduate of Linguistics from the University of Ibadan, shares his inspiring academic journey and how he achieved a remarkable 3.83 CGPA on a 4.0 scale. In this interview with KOREDE BADMUS, Oluwagbemiga discusses overcoming personal and financial setbacks, his mentorship of hundreds of students, and the experiences that defined his journey to academic excellence. Can you tell us your name and course of study? My name is Oluwagbemiga Olayinka Babatunde, and I studied Linguistics. What CGPA did you graduate with? I graduated with a CGPA of 3.83 on a 4.0 scale. What’s the most…

Ayomide Awe In a bid to enhance revenue generation and foster a business-friendly environment, Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, in partnership with A&B Jihmarta Nigeria Limited, has introduced a daily vehicle ticketing system. The initiative, launched on Friday at the Ifo LG Area Office in Agbado, aims to streamline vehicle movement while providing essential funding for local government projects. The event, attended by key stakeholders, government representatives, and law enforcement officers, highlighted the strategic importance of the daily ticket initiative. Speaking at the launch, Chief Odebiyi Akeem, CEO of A&B Jihmarta Nigeria Limited, described the project as a…

A nine-year-old boy in Ilorin, Kwara State, inadvertently set his family’s three-bedroom flat ablaze while playing with matches. The fire, which erupted on Thursday, occurred at No. 52 Mandate Housing Estate and caused significant damage to the property. The Kwara State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Friday. The agency’s spokesman, Hassan Adekunle, attributed the fire to the child’s unsupervised handling of matches, which ignited a mattress and quickly spread throughout the house. Adekunle urged parents and guardians to exercise caution during the holiday season, especially when children are home with limited supervision. “We strongly advise…

A 28-year-old man met his untimely death in Ondo State on Friday after allegedly taking hard drugs and coming into contact with a live wire. The spokesperson for the Ondo State Police Command, Funmilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident, emphasizing the dangers of drug abuse among youths. According to Odunlami, the man, suspected to be under the influence of hard substances, climbed a fence and inadvertently touched the live wire, leading to his electrocution. While extending condolences, Odunlami used the incident to caution against substance abuse, referencing Nigerian gospel singer Esther Igbekele’s song, Se Normal, as a poignant reminder for youths…