Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The recent Host Community Youths Empowerment (HCYE) programme organized by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and sponsored by Dangote Cement Ibese has garnered widespread praise for its comprehensive support and innovative approach towards empowering youths.  At the grand finale of the intensive two-month training, held at the Transport section of Dangote Cement Ibese on Wednesday, March 13, 2024, key stakeholders lauded the initiative’s impact and the exceptional quality of the start-up packs provided to the 30 graduating participants. Mr. Sulaimon Mogaji, the assigned trainer representing Dangote, expressed his admiration for the resources allocated by the federal government through ITF for…

Top officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as well as cabinet members in the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, have been  embroiled in a scandal involving a $6.2 million windfall. The  fund allegedly shared among Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs) by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele. According to sources close to the matter, the funds were purportedly withdrawn from the CBN vault under the guise of mobilizing international observers for the 2023 general elections.  However, investigations reveal that the money was clandestinely distributed among officials of the State House, Office of the Secretary…

An  Upper Customary Court in Kafanchan, Kaduna State, has  sentenced Nathaniel Danjuma to  two years imprisonment for theft. M Danjuma, along with his accomplice Japhet Habila, faced a three-count charge of criminal trespass, theft, and receiving stolen property. According to Police Prosecutor, Insp. Esther Bishen, the case was brought to light when Caleb Bakam of Ungwan Rimi reported the incident to the station on March 5.  Bakam discovered on the morning of March 1 that the bonnet of his car was open, and several items had been stolen from it.  Among the stolen items were a car battery, wristwatch, head…

The Kano State Hisbah Board has taken action against 11 Muslims for contravening the Ramadan fast by eating during the holy month.  The arrests were conducted as part of the annual Ramadan enforcement operations, which involved inspections of eateries and markets across the city. Lawal Ibrahim, the board’s Public Relations Officer, confirmed the arrests during an interview with the BBC Hausa Service on Wednesday. He disclosed that the arrests occurred on Tuesday, with the majority of individuals apprehended near markets. Among those arrested were 10 men and one woman, who was caught eating from her groundnut-selling stall. Ibrahim emphasized that…

The Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has issued a stern warning to holders of Permit for Non-Commercial Flight (PNCF) or private jet owners, cautioning them against engaging in commercial flight operations. Failure to comply will result in severe penalties. According to a statement released by Michael Achimugu, the Director of Public Affairs & Consumer Protection at NCAA, private jet owners are prohibited from using their aircraft for commercial purposes, including the carriage of passengers, cargo, or mail for hire or reward. “In line with Section 32 (4) of the Civil Aviation Act 2022,” Achimugu stated, “the NCAA will not hesitate…

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), known as Doctors Without Borders, has sounded the alarm on a dire humanitarian situation unfolding in Nigeria’s Northwest geopolitical zone. The organization has highlighted the devastating impact of armed conflict on communities, leading to catastrophic levels of malnutrition and an escalating crisis. In MSF facilities across Zamfara, Sokoto, and Katsina, over 854 children tragically lost their lives due to malnutrition exacerbated by armed conflict, which also severely limits access to healthcare services. Ahmed Bilal, the head of MSF’s mission, expressed dismay over the lack of recognition of the crisis, stressing the urgent need for a coordinated…

The suspected abductors  of 15 Almajiri children and a woman in Gidan Bakuso village, Gada Local Government Area  have made contact with the teacher of the Tsangaya school from where the children were taken. According to sources within the community, the terrorists reached out to Malam Liman Abubakar, demanding a ransom of N20 million for the safe return of the children.  However, the Sokoto State Police Public Relations Officer clarified that while ransom was demanded, no specific amount was mentioned during the contact. ASP Ahmad Rufai, speaking over the phone, confirmed that the terrorists contacted the school teacher and demanded…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has told  Mrs. Ifeanyi Eke, who alleged that her 15-year-old daughter received inappropriate text messages during her UTME registration process to go ahead with her lawsuit against the board . The JAMB stated this while responding to a recent development over  a lawsuit filed by the woman. The Board  issued a cautionary note to parents, advising against enrolling minors for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME). Mrs. Eke’s lawsuit, seeking N100 million in damages, named JAMB and three others as defendants before the Federal High Court in Lagos.  Addressing the issue, JAMB Registrar,…

Chief Edwin Clark, a venerable elder statesman, and former Ogun State Governor, Segun Osoba, have lent their voices to the clarion call for a fundamental shift in Nigeria’s governance structure.  They made this statement as a resolute endorsement of the proposed transition from the presidential to the parliamentary system of government. At the heart of this movement lies a fervent belief in the efficacy and practicality of parliamentary governance.  They stated this  during a recent meeting at Chief Clark’s residence in Abuja, where luminaries of the political landscape convened to deliberate on this pivotal issue.  Among them was Kingsley Chinda,…

Three former employees of Access Bank found themselves in the dock as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought charges against them for alleged fraud amounting to N15.9 million.  The accused individuals, identified as Ogbu Kingsley Ibekwem, Nwagbara Chidimma, and Uwaezuoke Raymond, along with Chidubem Angela Mgbeke, were arraigned before Justice Mohammed Garba Umar of the Federal High Court in Enugu State on Tuesday. The charges against them include conspiracy and stealing, with the total sum involved stated as N15,944,100.00. One of the counts specifically accuses Ibekwem and Mgbeke of conspiring to retain N7,996,800.00 meant for evacuation to the…