Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested numerous individuals, including a man with a physical disability and a Beninese national, seizing large quantities of narcotics across various states.  The NDLEA’s Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, revealed in a statement on Sunday that the crackdown led to multiple arrests and drug interceptions over the past week.  On July 14, operatives arrested Amadu Garba, a 48-year-old man with a physical disability, at his residence in Yawuri town, Kebbi State. Garba was found in possession of six bags of cannabis weighing 67 kilograms. In another significant bust, 60-year-old Ademola…

Daud Olatunji The Coalition for Transparency and Economic Reforms (COTER), representing 259 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), has announced its firm opposition to the planned nationwide protests by the group #EndBadGovernance. PLATFORM TIMES reports that these  protests, scheduled from August 1st to 15th, aim to challenge the administration of President Bola Tinubu. In a press conference held in Lagos, COTER’s leadership, including National Coordinator Adeshina Animashaun and Comrade Akintunde Adedeji, warned the organisers to reconsider their plans.  They compared the proposed protests to the #EndSARS demonstrations of October 2020, which resulted in significant turmoil across Nigeria. COTER  accused certain disgruntled politicians…

Daud Olatunji  The Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) has officially announced that local government elections will be held on October 26, 2024.  This announcement follows the impending end of the current tenure of local government chairmen across the state. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the development  is setting the stage for a critical electoral process that will see new leadership for the 20 Local Governments and Councillors for the 236 Wards in Ogun State. OGSIEC Chairman, Mr. Babatunde Osibodu, released a statement confirming that the elections will be conducted in accordance with Section 10(1) of the Ogun State Electoral Law…

Daud Olatunji  The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division in Oyo State, has issued a ruling prohibiting the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSIEC) from organising and supervising elections for the state’s 37 Local Council Development Authorities (LCDAs).  This decision follows an appeal filed by lawyer Oluwaseun Lawal against a previous judgement by Honourable Justice A.A. Akinyemi of the Ogun State High Court on May 20, 2020. In the appeal marked CA/IB/292/2020, Lawal contested the legitimacy of the Local Council Development Areas created under the Local Government (Creation and Transitional Provisions Amendment) Law, 2016, by the Ogun State House of Assembly. …

A  torrential downpour in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State has reportedly swept away four individuals, including a mother and her child. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this development has caused  widespread panic and prompting a desperate search by family members and local authorities for the missing victims .  The heavy rains, which began on Thursday and continued unabated through Saturday, unleashed severe floods across the industrial community, resulting in tragic consequences. Among the missing are a mother and her child, who were reportedly returning from a church service when they were caught in the deluge.  According to sources…

Yushau Shuaibu, the man who attempted to end his life by climbing the Aso Radio mast on July 8, has been released by the Abuja police command after a thorough mental health evaluation.  This decision came following a diagnosis of anxiety and persistent worry by the Federal Capital Territory Administration’s Social Development Secretariat (FCTA SDS). According to the police command’s spokeswoman, Josephine Adeh, Shuaibu was released “on bail to his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.”  In a statement posted on her official X handle on Friday, Adeh revealed that while Shuaibu was found mentally stable, his profiling highlighted significant symptoms of anxiety…

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says that approximately one million Nigerian children die annually before their fifth birthday due to various illnesses. The Mandate Secretary, Health Services and Environment Secretariat, Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, said this on Friday at a news conference to kick-start the 2024 FCT Maternal Newborn and Child Health Week vaccination. The vaccination exercise, which is free for children aged 0 to 59 months, is scheduled to begin on July 20 and end on July 24. Represented by Dr Babagana Adam, the Permanent Secretary, FCTA, Ms Fasawe said that the death rate among children between…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission has vowed to unravel the alleged missing 13,350 diapers for antenatal care at a Primary Health Centre in the Sambawa community, Kebbi. The commission said it would investigate the criminal conduct and bring the culprits to book. The chairman of ICPC, Musa Adamu, said this at a one-day conference organised by the ICPC in Abuja, on Thursday. Mr Adamu said, “Recently, the Sambawa community in Kebbi state sent a petition to us regarding missing antenatal care items for pregnant women and newborn babies donated to a healthcare facility.…

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed a troubling increase in vote-buying in Nigeria’s North-West region during the 2023 general elections.  According to a recent report titled “Corruption in Nigeria: Patterns and Trends Third Survey on Corruption as Experienced by the Population,” the incidence of vote-buying surged by 44 percent compared to the 2019 elections. The report details that vote-buying in the North-West rose from 23 percent in 2019 to a staggering 55 percent in 2023.  The NBS found that a substantial portion of the electorate, 55 percent, reported being offered money or other favours in exchange for their…

Daud Olatunji  The Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University has sacked the institution’s Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Joseph Ikechebelu.  The decision was communicated through a letter made available to reporters on Saturday. Professor Ikechebelu, who previously served as the university’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), was appointed Acting Vice-Chancellor in early June following the expiration of Professor Charles Esimone’s tenure on June 3.  No reason was provided for Professor Ikechebelu’s abrupt removal from office. The letter announcing the sack was signed by Gregory Mbadiwe, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairperson of the Governing Council.  In the same letter, Mbadiwe announced the appointment of Professor Carol…