Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The World Bank Group has announced its investments in Africa hit a record $38 billion in 2024, marking the highest allocation among all regions globally. This substantial funding is part of the bank’s broader $117.5 billion commitment to tackle critical issues worldwide, as revealed in its 2024 Annual Report released at the ongoing IMF-World Bank Group Annual Meetings. The report highlights the bank’s intensified focus on Africa, directing $38 billion toward projects in infrastructure, healthcare, and economic reforms to support the continent’s development goals. By comparison, Europe and Central Asia received $24.7 billion, Latin America and the Caribbean $19.4 billion,…

In a bid to address long-standing nutritional challenges within the prison system, the Nigerian government has approved an increment in the daily feeding allowance for inmates to N1,150. This adjustment, set to take effect in 2025, represents a significant rise from the current N750 allocation, aligning inmate welfare with “current economic realities,” according to the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). Speaking to The PUNCH on Tuesday, Stephen Abene, spokesperson for the Nasarawa State Command of the NCoS, confirmed that the increase has been incorporated into the 2025 budget to improve inmate care and address the growing concern over prison conditions. “The…

The Niger State House of Assembly has sounded an alarm over the takeover of a major military training camp by bandits, an incursion that has forced residents of 23 surrounding communities to flee. The camp, located at Nagwamase cantonment in Kontagora, is one of Nigeria’s largest military training grounds and hosts artillery corps training for the Nigerian Army. During Tuesday’s plenary, Abdullahi Isah, a lawmaker representing Kontagora II State Constituency, revealed that bandits had established control over the sprawling camp, which extends from Kontagora Local Government Area to sections of Mariga Local Government Area. “This military camp is now known…

Egbin Power Plc, a leading power generation company in Nigeria, has intensified its commitment to safety and operational excellence by achieving a significant milestone in workforce development. In collaboration with the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Egbin Power recently certified 28 employees, bolstering safety standards in the company and setting a higher benchmark for the power sector. The certification process, conducted by ISPON, involved comprehensive training, assessment, and screening, leading to the induction of the 28 employees into the Institute. The event, held at the Egbin Power Plant, underscored Egbin Power’s commitment to fostering a culture of safety…

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has sued the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged threat to arrest, detain and prosecute him after his tenure as governor. Mr Sanwo-Olu, through his lawyer, Darlington Ozurumba, filed the fundamental right enforcement suit before Justice Joyce Abdulmalik of a Federal High Court in Abuja. When the matter was called for mention on Tuesday, Mr Ozurumba informed the court that he had withdrawn the earlier originating summons filed and replaced it with a new one. The lawyer said the anti-graft agency had been duly served with the latest court documents. However, EFCC’s counsel, Hadiza…

Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, says his company has the capacity to meet the country’s local demand and urged marketers to stop importing the product. Dangote said this while addressing State House correspondents after a meeting with President Bola Tinubu to review the sale of crude in naira to local refiners at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday. He said the refinery had the capacity to produce over 30 million litres of crude oil daily, adding, “At full capacity, we can even supply whatever is being consumed, which I believe may be about 30.32 million litres…

The International Federation of Red Cross has expressed concern over the alarming spread of Lassa Fever to new areas across Nigeria The International Federation of Red Cross has expressed concern over the alarming spread of Lassa Fever to new areas across Nigeria. Speaking at a Lassa fever roundtable dialogue in Abuja on Tuesday, IFRC’s Operations Coordinator, Francis Salako, emphasised the need for urgent action. He said to combat the outbreak, the IFRC, in cooperation with the Red Cross, was supporting Nigerian efforts through the Disaster Response Imaging Fund. The focus areas, he said included improving detection and surveillance in six…

Professor Oguejiofo Ujam, the Dean of School of General Studies at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, reportedly escaped from his captors amid police gunfire on Monday evening along the Enugu/Opi/Nsukka Road. The Enugu State Police Command has announced on Tuesday that it’s operatives successfully thwarted a suspected kidnapping attempt, enabling Ujam’s escape. The incident reportedly occurred around 7:10 p.m. at the Neke-Uno axis, according to a statement from the Command’s spokesperson, DSP Daniel Ndukwe. The statement detailed that police officers attached to the Unity Division intercepted the suspected kidnappers, leading to a fierce gun duel that forced the assailants to…

Daud Olatunji The Oloola of Ilara Yewa, Oba Dr. Mutiu Alani Adedimeji Oyede Lawal, has extended his congratulations to a celebrated on-air personality, Moses Fakeye, known as “Ajede bi eni jede,” for his recent honour as Ogun State’s Most Outstanding On-Air Personality (OAP). PLATFORM TIMES reports that the accolade was bestowed at the prestigious Ogun Achievers Awards, held on October 27, 2024, at the 5&5 Events Center in Ibara Omida, Abeokuta. The event, organised by Hintz Media, spotlighted Fakeye’s exceptional talent in broadcasting, his engaging content, and his dedication to both informing and entertaining his audience. PLATFORM TIMES further reports…

Daud Olatunji Amid growing concerns over disparities in doctors’ remuneration across Nigeria, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Ogun State Branch, has issued a call for the universal implementation of the Consolidated Medical Salary Structure (CONMESS) wage scale. The NMA argues that addressing wage discrepancies, particularly among clinical lecturers in Basic Medical Science, Basic Clinical Science, and other essential medical fields, is essential to retaining skilled professionals within the state. At a press conference held to mark the 2024 Physicians’ Week, themed “Ensuring Universal Applicability in Remuneration: A Panacea to Talent Retention in the Healthcare System,” Dr. Luqman Ogunjimi, Chairman of…