Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has raised  the alarm on the escalating cigarette addiction crisis among Nigerian youth, revealing that over five million young Nigerians are hooked on smoking.  This distressing statistic was disclosed during a National Stakeholders Engagement on Smoke-free Nollywood, held in Enugu. The event was aimed at addressing the influence of smoking in the film industry. Akinbode Oluwafemi, CAPPA’s Executive Director, highlighted the dire consequences of tobacco addiction.  He noted that tobacco smoking has claimed more than 80 million lives globally, with 75% of these deaths occurring in developing countries, including Nigeria. Oluwafemi emphasized that…

Over the past five years, Lagos State has emerged as the epicenter of human trafficking in Nigeria, with 2,074 individuals trafficked and only 27 convictions secured in connection with the crime. This revelation comes from the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), highlighting the severity of the situation in Nigeria’s commercial capital. Data from shows identified key areas as hotspots include Epe, Ikorodu, Agege, Apapa, and Iganmu, indicating a widespread and entrenched problem. The statistics, obtained through a Freedom of Information Act (FOI) request by The Guardian with assistance from Media Rights Agenda (MRA), paint a…

 A 48-year-old cleric, David Olasupo, was on Tuesday, arraigned before a Badagry Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly posting pictures of a woman on Facebook and labeling her a ‘ritualist.’ PLATFORM TIMES reports that  the police report indicates that the defendant, whose residential address remains undisclosed, is facing charges for conduct likely to breach public peace.  According to the prosecution, led by Inspector Ayodele Adeosun, the alleged offense took place on April 29, around 10:30 p.m., in the Ilogbo-Eremi area of Badagry, Lagos State. The prosecutor detailed that Olasupo posted pictures of Mrs. Mayowa Abimbola, another cleric, on Facebook, accusing her…

A 45 years old teacher, Oluwagbemi Alabi, has been sentenced by An Ekiti State High Court, Ado Ekiti Division, to 15 years imprisonment for raping an eight years old girl. Alabi, who committed the offence in 1999, was arraigned on 25th August 2023 on one count charge of rape. The charge read, “Alabi Oluwafemi sometime in the year 1999 at Ikere Ekiti within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did rape an eight-year-old girl, at the time of committing the offence. “The offence was contrary to and punishable under Section 358 of the Criminal Code, Cap 30, Laws…

 Daud Olatunji The high-profile case involving the Managing Director of Alliance Hospital, Abuja, Dr. Christopher Otabor, and three other members of staff reached a climax as the court overruled objections from the defense counsel.  A statement signed by Communication Officer of NAPTIP, Adekoye Vincent, explained that the case revolves around alleged organ (kidney) harvesting, with the defendants facing charges under the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. The statement further read that the  prosecution’s case gained significant momentum with the testimony of key witnesses, including Mr. Lanre Akande, an Abuja-based businessman, and Mr. Liman Yusuf Shehu, a…

The National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives, Ogun State Council, launched its 2024 Nurses Week with a resounding call for empowerment and recognition of the invaluable role nurses play in society.  Under the theme “Our Nurses Our Future, the Economic Power of Care,” the week-long event commenced with Chairman Comrade Nurse, Adejoke Bello highlighting the significance of celebrating Nigeria’s nursing workforce. In her address, Bello expressed gratitude to the association members for their unwavering dedication and emphasized the crucial role nurses play as the backbone of the healthcare system. She stressed the importance of diligence, empathy, and kindness…

Daud Olatunji  In response to recent misconceptions circulating on social media platforms, the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has clarified its stance regarding the accessibility of student loans.  The management of NELFUND categorically refuted claims suggesting that the student loan programme is exclusively reserved for federal institutions, emphasizing its inclusion of state institutions. In a statement titled “Clarification: State Institutions Included in Student Loan Programme,” released on Tuesday, NELFUND debunked the misinformation and provided insight into the program’s structure. The Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Akintinde Sawyerr, reiterated during a Pre-Application Sensitisation Press Conference in Abuja that the initiative encompasses both…

Seven individuals were found dead inside a music studio in Bayelsa State on Tuesday after inhaling what is suspected to be generator fumes.  The studio, located along Transformer Road in the Amarata area of Yenagoa, the state capital, was operated by one of the deceased, identified as Akpos Barakubo. The victims were believed to have been working late into the night on Monday. Exhausted, they apparently fell asleep without turning off the generator, which led to the fatal accumulation of fumes. The lifeless bodies of six individuals were discovered in the morning, while a seventh person, initially found unconscious, was…

The Kano State House of Assembly is taking significant steps to amend the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law, a move seen by many as a potential pathway for the restoration of the deposed Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II, to his former position. This development comes amidst growing public pressure and calls for the return of Sanusi, who was controversially dethroned in 2020. The decision to amend the law was made during a plenary session on Tuesday, following a motion introduced by the Majority Leader, Hussien Dala, representing the Dala constituency. Dala highlighted the necessity of revisiting the…

Daud Olatunji  Negotiations for a new minimum wage in Nigeria has hit another snag as the Federal Government’s fresh offer of ₦54,000 was rebuffed by Organised Labour, the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress. A closed-door meeting, held between the Federal Government and the Organised Labour at the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja on Tuesday. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this botched offer falls drastically short of the N615,000 proposed by the unions, setting the stage for further tensions between labour and the government. PLATFORM TIMES further reports that the  Tripartite Committee on the New Minimum Wage reconvened after…