Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo, has pledged support for international students at Babcock University, Ogun State, urging them to prioritise peace and unity as they pursue their academic goals. Bazivamo gave the charge during the Babcock University International Students Association (BUISA) Cultural Day, held as part of the BUISA Week celebration. “We proudly stand in solidarity with you, our esteemed students,” the envoy said, acknowledging the challenges and opportunities international students face while studying abroad. He encouraged them to build friendships, embrace diverse cultures and contribute to a positive African narrative. He also lauded their collaboration…

The Presidency has issued a formal apology following errors discovered in the recently released list of federal appointments aimed at countering allegations of regional bias in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The controversy surrounding the appointments gained traction as opposition figures, including Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South, criticized the President for allegedly disregarding the federal character principle. In a candid interview with Arise Television, Ndume accused the President of disproportionately favoring appointees from his native South West region. In response, the Presidency had unveiled a list detailing appointments across various geopolitical zones. However, the omission of key figures, notably the…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has slammed a combined fine of N628 million on eight Electricity Distribution Companies for breaching the capping regulation on estimated billing for unmetered customers. The affected DisCos include Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola. NERC said the sanction followed a detailed review of the utilities’ billing practices between July and September 2024, which showed non-compliance with its energy cap orders aimed at protecting consumers from arbitrary billing. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission disclosed that the fines represent five per cent of the total overbilling recorded within the three-month period,…

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a stark warning, identifying 1,249 communities across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at high risk of flooding in its 2025 annual flood outlook. This announcement, made during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, highlights the increasing threat of flooding exacerbated by climate change. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasized the severity of flooding as one of Nigeria’s most devastating natural disasters. He disclosed that an additional 2,187 communities spread across 293 local government areas face moderate flood risks this year. Among the high-risk states listed…

In a significant quadrennial event, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has elected a dynamic ten-member executive committee to lead the union into a new era of progress and advocacy. PLATFORM TIMES reported that the election was marked by tension, preceding disagreements from a faction reportedly aligned with influential figures within the university who opposed the union’s autonomy. Held amidst heightened anticipation at the CESAP building, OOU Ago-Iwoye, Dr. Lamina Abiodun secured victory for a second term as Chairperson, garnering 102 votes against his closest contender, Comrade Dr. Kehinde Phillips, who…

A socio-cultural organisation, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has warned the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, to steer clear of a proposed bill seeking to alter Nigeria’s existing indigeneship rights, describing it as a dangerous move capable of inciting ethnic conflict across the country. The group made this known in a strongly worded letter dated April 2, 2025, and addressed to the Speaker, with copies sent to members of the Lagos State and South-West caucuses in the National Assembly. The letter, titled “Rejection of the Proposed Federal Bill on Indigenous Rights Due to Its Potential to…

The Western Zone of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) has vehemently condemned the recent decisions of the Governing Council of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti, regarding the alleged sexual harassment scandal involving Vice Chancellor Professor Abayomi Sunday Fashina and Deputy Director Engineer Folashade Adebayo. In a statement released by National Vice President and Chairman of SSANU’s Western Zone, Dr. Abdussobur Salaam, SSANU expressed outrage over what it perceives as a gross miscarriage of justice and a failure of ethical leadership within the university system. The controversy stems from a press release issued by the Governing Council following…

Hunting, as a universal and natural occupation, is as old as man. Since the beginning of time, humans hunt for the purpose of capturing or killing wildlife for meat, while in other cases, repel dangerous predators to secure a peaceful environment. Overtime, the rise of criminality has changed the shape of this existing occupational and social formations where the help of hunters is often needed in many cases to secure a peaceful, safe and harmonious society, while they still maintain their old traditional system of practice. The heinous crimes perpetrated in the recent times across the nation has changed the…

In a landmark step to strengthen Nigeria’s digital economy, the Federal Government has designated Egbin Power Plc as the host location for the country’s first National Data Park and Compute Infrastructure. The Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani, disclosed this during a recent visit to the power plant, located in Lagos. He was received by the Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, Dr. Kola Adesina (MFR), and the CEO of Egbin Power, Mr. Mokhtar Bounour, among other executives. Dr. Tijani said the decision to site the national digital infrastructure at Egbin Power was driven by…

Passengers aboard a train travelling from Warri to Itakpe were left stranded in a remote forest in Kogi State on Tuesday after the locomotive reportedly broke down mid-journey, forcing commuters to trek for hours to safety. Among the stranded passengers was Marxist activist, Kola Edokpayi, who documented the ordeal in a video shared on social media. Edokpayi, who was en route to Abuja, said the train developed a fault in what he described as an “evil forest” with no mobile network coverage. “We became apprehensive,” he said. “We were stranded in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by forest and with…