Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced that Shaibu Yusuf, the man who climbed a broadcast mast in Abuja to protest economic hardship, will face prosecution if he is found mentally stable.  Yusuf  had on Monday, drawn  attention when he scaled the broadcast mast belonging to Aso Radio and Television in the Katampe area of Abuja.  His dramatic protest was aimed at highlighting the severe economic challenges, insecurity, and the crisis of out-of-school children in the country.  Yusuf had also  left a note on the ground before he climbed the last, declaring that he would only come down…

Daud Olatunji   The National President of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Nathaniel Muhammadu Atebije, has highlighted the severe shortage of town planning professionals in Nigeria, drawing a stark comparison with developed countries.  Speaking at the 2024 Town Hall Meeting themed “Creating the Livable Environment We Need through Collaboration and Community Participation,” Atebije emphasised  the critical role of town planners in achieving sustainable development. “One of the significant challenges we face is the lack of professionals,” Atebije stated.  “We don’t have enough town planners, engineers, surveyors, quantity surveyors, or builders. In developed countries, the ratio of town planners to…

By: Joshua Fagbemi A 9-hour non-stop heavy rainfall in Lagos on Wednesday, July 3, caused devastating floods in various parts of the state including Sururele, Lekki, Ijesha, Isolo, Ikoyi, Okokomaiko, Ikeja, Oshodi, Ajah, and Greenland Estate, among others.    The floods submerged houses and swept away businesses worth millions. Many residents of Lagos had to abandon their houses and seek refuge in religious houses, in the streets, or with relatives. In the Jakande Estate area of the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos alone, about 2,000 residents were displaced from their homes by floods between May and June 2024, according…

The management of International School Ibadan (ISI), under the University of Ibadan (UI), has filed motions for a stay of execution regarding the judgment that permits female Muslim students to wear hijab over their school uniforms.  The motions were filed by UI, ISI, the Principal, and the UI Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic. The legal cases, identified as M/413/19 to M/540/19, are scheduled for a hearing on July 10, 2024, before Justice Moshood Ishola in Court Six.  This development comes after the Oyo State High Court ruled on May 23, 2024, that ISI’s ban on hijab-wearing for female Muslim students was unconstitutional…

Fawaz Adebisi Abstract : “Everywhere was smelling; the rate at which the odor came out was not good. I brought my daughter last Tuesday, and up till now, we don’t have water, we don’t have light,” she said angrily. “You people enjoy seeing casualties, taking them (patients) to the mortuary. My family and I can’t go to the mortuary. If you like it or not, if it’s your plan, it won’t work,” lamented Abiola Bolaji, a mother whose sick daughter, dependent on an oxygen machine, is suffering due to the lack of electricity at Sokenu State Hospital in Ijaiye, Abeokuta,…

Terrorists dressed in hijab, also known as abaya, launched an attack on the Runka community in Safana Local Government Area of Katsina State.  The attack, which occurred around 10 p.m. on Saturday night, resulted in the abduction of 25 individuals, primarily women and children. The Runka community is situated near the infamous Rugu Forest, a notorious hideout for terrorists and bandits.  According to a source from the community, the attackers, armed with guns, invaded the area and began firing shots indiscriminately, causing panic and chaos among residents. “There were no fatalities reported among the community members, except for one person…

In a recent revelation by BudgIT, the federal government has earmarked N732.5 billion for empowerment projects in the 2024 budget, a figure surpassing the N646.5 billion allocated to health projects.  This discovery was made through Tracka, BudgIT’s service delivery promotion platform, which enables citizens to track and provide feedback on public projects in their communities. According to BudgIT, the disparity in allocations comes at a time when Nigeria grapples with severe health challenges.  Despite the country having the second-highest child mortality rate globally in 2023, the 2024 budget does not prioritize health emergencies adequately.  “The government has shown no signs…

A former Deputy National Chairman (South-West) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bode George, has expressed concern over President Bola Tinubu’s handling of the insurgency in Nigeria.  Speaking on Channels Television’s “Politics Today” on Monday, George highlighted the recent multiple suicide bombings in Borno State as a stark indicator of the escalating crisis. The coordinated attacks, which took place in Tashan Mararaba and Gwoza towns, targeted a wedding, a hospital, and a funeral ceremony, resulting in significant casualties.  Vice President Kashim Shettima confirmed that the death toll from the bomb blasts had risen to 32 during his condolence visit to…

A  72-year-old security guard,  David Jackson, has been sentenced  to life imprisonment by Justice Abiola Soladoye of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court Ikeja, Lagos State, for defiling his neighbour’s seven-year-old daughter. The judge held that the prosecution had proved the three ingredients of defilement against him beyond reasonable doubt. The state prosecution counsel, Ms Abimbola Abolade, called three witnesses during the trial while the convict testified as the sole witness. Abolade said that the convict committed the offence on May 16, 2022, at Oyedele Close, Ojodu, in the Berger area in Lagos State. Soladoye in her…

An unidentified man has  climbed a telecommunications mast on Katampe Hill in Abuja on Monday, declaring his willingness to sacrifice his life for the resolution of Nigeria’s pressing issues.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the  man left a suicide note at the base of the mast, detailing his demands for the government.  The note articulated a five-point list of actions he believes are necessary to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.  His primary demand is the reinstatement of the fuel subsidy, a contentious issue that has seen significant debate and public outcry in recent years. The note read, “These are the major…