Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government of Nigeria is in advanced discussions with the World Bank to secure loans totaling over $1 billion aimed at addressing critical issues affecting Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and enhancing agricultural development in the nation. The proposed loans, outlined in World Bank documents titled ‘Solutions for the Internally Displaced and Host Communities Project’ and ‘Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project – Scale Up,’ are earmarked to tackle challenges faced by IDPs and their host communities, as well as to bolster rural infrastructure and agricultural marketing efforts across Nigeria. According to the documents, the loan request includes $500 million…

An Ikeja High Court on Monday sentenced a man, Adam Francis, to 38 years imprisonment for robbing a motorist of her necklace, wristwatch, United Bank of Africa (UBA) cards and the sum of N50,000. Justice Oyindamola Ogala in her judgment held that the prosecution had successfully proved the three count charge of armed robbery, conspiracy and assault against Francis. Ogala said the standard of proof was beyond every reasonable doubt and that the prosecution had been able to discharge the burden of proof placed on it. She affirmed that the offensive weapons were used by Francis to carry out the…

A  middle-aged man identified as Sunday Odechukwu has been  accused of brutally assaulting his wife, Mrs. Augustina Odechukwu, with a machete, resulting in severe cuts to her body in Akure,Ondo State. The 40-year-old victim, originally from Ebonyi State, recounted how her husband, a native of Anambra State, launched the attack on Sunday at their residence along Oda Road, Akure.  She revealed that their relationship had soured over the past year, with communication between them breaking down completely.  Additionally, she lamented that her husband had ceased providing for her and their children. Despite her husband’s demands for them to vacate the…

Daud Olatunji In January 2024, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released data shedding light on the increasing cost of eating  a healthy diet in Nigeria.  The average Nigerian now spends N858 per day, a significant surge from the N786 reported just a month prior, marking a 9.16 per cent  increase.  This upward trajectory in expenses is reflective of a broader economic challenge, with inflation hitting an all-time high of 29.90 per cent  by January 2024. Delving into regional disparities, the data highlights the South West zone as the most expensive region for healthy dietary habits, with an average daily…

A suspected quack medical practitioner, Mr. Echi Michael, has been apprehended during an interview for the position of Medical Officer at the Port Harcourt Military Hospital. The arrest was orchestrated by the Rivers State chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), which had been monitoring Michael’s activities closely. Accusations against Mr. Michael include operating with counterfeit documents and falsely representing himself as a qualified medical doctor. Dr. Hope Avundaa, the Secretary of the Rivers State NMA chapter, revealed that Mr. Michael’s fraudulent activities came to light when he attempted to obtain an NMA ID card using forged credentials, including a…

The Ekiti state government has taken decisive action against illegal activities within its forest reserves, as officers of the state Forestry Task Force set ablaze a sprawling 20-hectare Indian hemp plantation nestled within the Ise Forest Reserves. Speaking on Sunday in Ado-Ekiti, the Executive Secretary of the State Forestry Commission, Sunday Adekunle, disclosed that the operation was prompted by intelligence indicating nefarious activities in the Government Reserves along the Ise axis. “The 20-hectare Indian hemp plantation and nursery, prepared for transplanting of the illegal weeds, were destroyed in the operation,” Adekunle stated. Adekunle emphasized the government’s unwavering commitment to combatting…

The Kaduna State Police Command has apprehended a housewife accused of orchestrating a plot to eliminate her husband by hiring assassins. The incident reportedly unfolded in the serene community of Rafin Guza, situated within the Kaduna North Local Government Area. According to sources close to the investigation, the motive behind the sinister plot stemmed from a financial dispute between the couple. The husband, in a gesture of trust, had extended a loan of N400,000 to his wife to invest in a business endeavor. However, tensions arose when the husband demanded repayment of the loan, only to be met with resistance…

In a major crackdown on drug-related activities, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has apprehended a 20-year-old hair stylist, Josephine Odunu, and a 30-year-old dispatch rider, Edesemi Ikporo, for peddling illicit drug-laced chin-chin to students and partygoers in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. According to NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi, the agency’s operatives intercepted Edesemi on Sunday, March 10, in the Opolo area of Yenagoa, seizing 200 grams of cannabis-laced chin-chin. This led to the subsequent arrest of Josephine, who operated from a salon in the Kpansia area. A search of the salon revealed an additional 3.00kg of the drugged snack, bringing…

President Bola Tinubu has vowed that the perpetrators behind the tragic killing of Nigerian Army personnel during a peace mission in Delta State will face justice. In response to the incident, which claimed the lives of at least 16 soldiers, Tinubu expressed deep sorrow and determination to ensure that those responsible are held accountable. The soldiers, from the 181 Amphibious Battalion deployed in the Bomadi region, were on a peacekeeping mission in the Okuoma community when they were brutally attacked on Thursday, March 14. Brigadier General Tukur Gusau confirmed the tragic loss in a statement, highlighting the devastating impact of…

After more than a year since assuming office as Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke has finally relocated to the Government House in Osogbo, the official residence of the state governor. Adeleke, who was sworn in on Sunday, November 27, 2022, had been residing in his personal residence in Ede, a nearby town, instead of the Government House. Despite facing criticism from the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Adeleke remained in Ede, citing ongoing renovations at the Government House. In a statement released on Sunday by the governor’s spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, it was revealed that Adeleke had officially opened the…