Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State, Professor Hassan Ibrahim, has accused members of the National Assembly of demanding bribes during their oversight visits to universities. Ibrahim made the revelation during the third annual lecture of the Bursary Department at the Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, themed “The Role of Accountants in Enhancing Ethical Financial Practices in the University System.” He stated that political interference in university management had severely undermined the education system. “Some politicians are using the oversight functions for their selfish gains. Instead of doing the right thing, they ask for kickbacks,…

The Minister of Defence, Mohammad Badaru, has issued a direct order to troops of Operation Fansar Yamma to arrest the notorious bandits’ leader, Bello Turji. The minister gave this directive during an address to the soldiers at the One Brigade Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Thursday. Badaru emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts against terrorists and bandits in the region, highlighting that President Bola Tinubu has been closely monitoring military activities in recent months. According to the minister, the president is satisfied with the progress so far but acknowledges that significant challenges remain. “The president urged me to thank…

Troops of Operation Udoka in the South-East have arrested a key  proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), figure described as a “founding father” and other top commanders. The arrest, which took place across Imo and Abia states, marks a major success in ongoing efforts to curb insurgency and criminal activities in the region. The Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, announced the arrests on Thursday in Abuja during the bi-weekly briefing by the Defence Headquarters, which highlighted recent achievements by the military. “In the South-East, the troops of Operation Udoka, Forward Operational Base (FOB), Orsu, in a…

Daud Olatunji The Capital City University Kano (CCUK) has been granted a full license to operate as a private institution in Nigeria, following an approval from the National Universities Commission (NUC). This was disclosed by the university’s Registrar,Hajiya Rakiya Bello Dandago in a statement issued on Thursday. She explained that the milestone was reached after a thorough visitation by the NUC panel recently. According to her, the panel expressed satisfaction with the university’s facilities and its adherence to operational standards, marking a significant endorsement for the institution, which began its operations in 2021. PLATFORM TIMES reports that initially, CCUK had…

Daud Olatunji The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced significant strides in the disbursement of student loans, with over N10 billion distributed and 350,000 applications received so far. Managing Director and CEO of NELFUND, Akintunde Sawyerr, revealed this on Wednesday during a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Student Loans, Scholarships, and Higher Education Financing at the National Assembly Complex, Abuja. Sawyerr emphasized the inclusivity of the loan scheme, ensuring that every Nigerian, irrespective of location or background, could access education. He also noted a focused outreach to marginalized regions, particularly the South East, which has seen…

The National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) says about 67.8 per cent of Nigerian households use fuelwood as a source of energy for domestic, agricultural, commercial, cultural, or religious purposes. The NBS made the declaration in its Nigeria Residential Energy Demand-Side Survey(NREDSS) 2024, unveiled on Wednesday in Abuja. The report said that the states covered for the survey were carefully selected across the six geo-political zones of the country and include Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Ekiti, Oyo, Enugu, Kwara, Plateau, Kano, and Sokoto. The report revealed that about 41 per cent of households reported purchasing fuelwood, which was closely followed by those who…

The Senate has called for a national summit aimed at finding comprehensive solutions to the problem. The decision was reached following a detailed briefing with President Bola Tinubu and a report submitted by the Senate Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary). The report, presented by the committee’s Chairman, Senator Usman Lawal Adamu, representing Kaduna Central, highlighted the strides made in the past year, noting that over two million out-of-school children have been enrolled in schools. This achievement was credited to the concerted efforts of various agencies under the Ministry of Education tasked with tackling the out-of-school children problem. However, despite…

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has suspended the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Fidelis Mnyim, for his involvement in a legal challenge against the legitimacy of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Mnyim, who joined other states in contesting the legality of the EFCC’s establishment, was removed from his position for participating in the ongoing legal proceedings questioning the constitutionality of the anti-corruption agencies. The suspension, announced by the state government, is seen as a direct response to Mnyim’s role in the controversial lawsuit. The…

The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, has raised an urgent warning that Lagos could face devastating flooding and potential submersion if immediate measures are not taken to combat the effects of climate change. Speaking at a Strategic Stakeholders Meeting held in Ikeja, Lagos, Dr. Hamzat emphasized the unique vulnerability of the state due to its geographical location, population density, and limited land space. He pointed out that these factors, combined with the growing impacts of climate change, put the state in an increasingly precarious situation. “Lagos State, because of our geography, because of our population, because of…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has approved a revised training curriculum for all police recruits. The updated curriculum is designed to address critical areas of modern policing, aligning the force with international best practices and preparing recruits to meet the complex challenges of law enforcement in Nigeria. Among the key topics introduced in the revised curriculum are the Police Act 2020, the Nigeria Police Force Social Media Policy, and training on harassment and gender-based crimes. Other areas include sex education, anti-corruption laws, and the Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities Prohibition Act. The curriculum also covers election security, public…