Author: Platform Times Newspaper

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a directive to major cement companies, including Dangote and BUA, to revert to previous price levels, as confirmed by Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during his visit to BUA cement factory in Sokoto. Umahi emphasized the importance of the directive in achieving the government’s massive housing program and the commitment to concrete roads. He encouraged manufacturers to abide by the president’s order for the benefit of these national projects. During the visit, Umahi applauded BUA for completing its 5th production line. He praised the company’s commitment to cleanliness on its premises and acknowledged…

In a recent development, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has raised concerns over the National Emergency Management Agency’s (NEMA) failure to receive a new aircraft, despite reportedly paying over N1 billion to an Israeli-based company in 2010. The Auditor General of the Federation (OAuGF) revealed in a report that NEMA had paid a deposit of N1,054,222,576 to the Israeli company in 2010 but had not taken delivery of the aircraft even after a decade. As of March 2020, an audit report submitted to the National Assembly on November 30, 2023, indicated that no aircraft had been supplied to…

In a distressing incident, unidentified gunmen have taken the life of Louis Enoshi, a Point of Sales (POS) operator hailing from Umuogudu-Akpu, Ngbo, in the Ohaukwu local government area of Ebonyi State. The tragedy unfolded on Wednesday when assailants, demanding money, raided Enoshi’s residence in Ezzamgbo. During the harrowing incident, Enoshi was fatally shot, and the criminals made off with his mobile phone, cash, and Firstmonie POS machine. Nwaebonyi, a resident of the area, recounted the shocking event, stating, “In the early hours of today, 28th February 2024, at about 2 am; Mr. Enoshi Louis, a native of Ndiagu…

Izoma Phillip Chinedu Asiodu, CFR, CON!  What a name!  What a man!  It is always a name that fills one with awe, admiration, and sheer respect. Here is one of General Gowon’s Super Permanent Secretaries. He was among the first-generation post-independence Nigerian bureaucrats who laid the foundation for the administrative structure of modern Nigeria. He is an encyclopedia of contemporary Nigerian history, politics, geography and even the psychology of the country. Not only that, he also contributed a lot to regional integration in West Africa.  He belonged to a group so vast in intellect, so noble in character and…

Daud Olatunji In a disturbing revelation, 32-year-old Adebayo Olamide Azeez, a suspected ritual killer, has detailed the sinister method he employed to lure and brutally murder seven women through the dating app “mychat.”  Azeez, who confessed to being part of a ritualist gang specializing in killing women for money ritual, was paraded before journalists in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State. The arrest of Azeez followed the apprehension and public parade of other gang members by operatives of the Ogun State command, including Moses Abidemi Awuraji, Oluwo Samuel Monday, Peter Oluwalolese, Jamiu Yusuf, Akinwunmi Ifatosin, Sheriff Agbai, and Osojieahen Alioneitouria. …

The Kano State government has issued a directive suspending the conferment and upgrading of traditional titles across all five emirate councils until further notice.  The decision, outlined in a letter signed by Ibrahim Kabara, the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Local Government Affairs, was sent to each of the emirate councils in the state. This move comes on the heels of a previous incident where the Bichi Emirate Council was instructed by the state government to refrain from turbaning Salisu Ado Bayero as a district head in the emirate on February 2nd, 2024. The letter, dated February 28, 2024,…

Daud Olatunji President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday, condemned the recent protest by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), asserting that the Labour movement is not the exclusive voice of the people.  Speaking at the commissioning of the Lagos Red Line Train connecting Agbado to Oyingbo, Tinubu addressed the NLC’s Tuesday protest, warning them of their perceived overreach. The Labour Union had staged a protest earlier in the week, citing hardships in the nation and the federal government’s failure to implement agreements with unions.  However, President Tinubu, in his remarks, criticized the Labour Union, stating that despite their rights and freedoms,…

Daud Olatunji The National Planning Committee for the Nigeria Public Relations Week-Abeokuta 2024 (NPRW) has issued a reminder that the early bird concessionary rates of Eighty thousand Naira (N80,000.00) for members and One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (N120,000.00) for non-members will conclude on Thursday, February 29, 2024. Mr. Akin Okudero, Chairman of the Public Relations & Stakeholders Sub Committee, emphasized that starting March 1, members and non-members will be required to pay the regular fees of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000.00) and One Hundred & Fifty Thousand Naira (N150,000.00), respectively, to register for the Week. Okudero urged members to…

By Kosamatu Raji The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy, says Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Ogbeni Lanre Banjo practicalises this on various issues that affect the masses in Nigeria regardless of the cost to him.  Lanre Banjo adopted the use of the appellation “Ogbeni” from a letter the late sage and Premier of the old Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo used in the salutation of a personal letter he sent to him shortly before his demise. He considered it…

In a session on Wednesday, the Ghana Parliament successfully passed the controversial bill targeting human sexual rights and family values, commonly known as the anti-LGBTQ bill.  The legislation, officially titled the “Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill,” was spearheaded by Sam Nartey George, the Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram. GhanaWeb highlights that the bill, initially a Private Members Bill led by Sam Nartey George, strictly prohibits LGBTQ activities and criminalizes any promotion, advocacy, or funding of such practices, according to reports from Citi Newsroom. Local media indicates that individuals found engaging in LGBTQ activities could…