Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a nail-biting finale at the 2023 CAF African Cup of Nations on Sunday, the host nation, Ivory Coast, emerged victorious, securing a 2-1 triumph over the formidable Super Eagles of Nigeria. Franck Kessie and Sebastien Haller showcased their prowess with two crucial strikes, effectively overturning Troost-Ekong’s early opener. The first half of the game unfolded with a gripping display of skill and determination by Ivory Coast, commanding possession with six attempts on goal, half of which found their mark. In the 8th minute, Simon Adingra missed a golden opportunity to score, sending his shot over the crossbar. The intensity…

Former Aviation Minister, Osita Chidoka, has shared a harrowing account of his close call with death, detailing his last meeting with the late Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings PLC, Herbert Wigwe.  The poignant narrative unfolds against the backdrop of their scheduled meeting last Thursday. In a heartfelt post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Chidoka revealed how he pleaded with Wigwe to take him along on his frequent overseas trips.  “We had an appointment for last Thursday. ‘Osita, I will fly into Abuja with the VC on Thursday; after our meeting, I will leave for the US,'” Chidoka…

By Rasak Musbau Aside from during sporting events, when every Nigerian passionately supports and wants Nigeria’s team to succeed, Nigeria is synonymous with deep division along the lines of intricate ethnic, religious, and regional divides. Lee Kuan Yew, the architect of modern-day Singapore, visited Nigeria a few days before the military struck on January 15, 1966. His visit was in connection with the Commonwealth Conference held in Lagos on Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe. His conclusion about Nigeria in 1966 is contained in a book he wrote in 2000 titled, ‘From Third World to First’. In the book, he concluded: “I think…

In a significant move to combat artificial price increases, the Kano State Public Compliant and Anti-Corruption Commission sealed off more than 10 warehouses on Sunday.  Commission Chairman, Bar. Muhuyi Rimingado, led an unscheduled inspection of the Dawanau grain market in Kano, targeting warehouses suspected of hoarding essential commodities like grains, millets, sugar, and spaghetti. The sealing off of these warehouses followed an intelligence report and the acquisition of search warrants from the court.  Rimingado emphasized that the operation became necessary to curb the relentless surge in the prices of essential commodities, aggravating the challenges faced by Nigerians. “We started last…

A Grade One Area Court at Aco Estate, Abuja, has delivered a guilty verdict against Mr. Ezechinoso Augustine, owner of a Computer-Based Testing (CBT) centre in Onitsha, Anambra State.  The conviction is based on charges including registration infraction, concealment, breach of trust, and theft. During the hearing on Monday, February 6, 2024, Ezechinoso was accused of criminal breach of trust, concealment, registration infraction (cheating), and theft.  The male suspect, residing at No. 28 Omonun Street, Awada, Onitsha, allegedly received customised and sensitive registration materials from the Anambra State Office of the Board for the purpose of initiating UTME registration. Despite…

Over 120,000 Nigerian refugees currently residing in Cameroon are urgently seeking the assistance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to facilitate their return to their ancestral homes in Borno State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the  plea was officially communicated on February 8, 2024, through a letter addressed to Tinubu by Mr. Luka Isaac, the president of the Nigerian Refugees in Cameroon (NRC), a copy of the letter was sighted  on Sunday. The refugees, hailing from Gwoza East of the local council, encompassing 21 communities including Arganjara, Agapalawa, Amuda, and 15 other villages near the Cameroon border, highlighted their dire situation at…

In a resounding call for the preservation of cultural heritage, the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Ogun State Chapter, has appealed to the Ogun State Government to designate Jimi Solanke’s “Ibudo Asa” in Ipara Remo as a cherished cultural heritage site. A statement signed by Public Relations Officer, ANA Ogun, Dare Folarin said the association during its  monthly meeting at the Simeon Adebo Library in Abeokuta,  emphasized the significance of icons like Chief Jimi Solanke. The body  highlights  the potential cultural enrichment and boost to tourism that his works, songs, and paintings could bring to the State. Expressing concern over…

In a strategic move aimed at reinforcing its political positioning for future elections, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) has announced new acting state chairmen for Ogun and Ekiti States.  The announcement came from the national chairman of ADC, representing the decision of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party. During the NWC and NEC meeting held on 13th September 2023, the resolutions were made in response to the unfolding dynamics within the party.  The decisions were influenced by the outcome of the report submitted by the disciplinary committee and the defection of some party executives to other political parties…

The Ogun State Council of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) has strongly advocated  the immediate reversal and withdrawal of a new certificate verification process introduced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN). In a recent memo signed by the state Chairman of NANNM, Comrade Nurse Adejoke Oluwatoyin Bello, the NMCN’s revised guidelines stipulate that applicants seeking certificate verification from foreign nursing boards and councils must possess a minimum of two years of post-qualification experience from the date of issuance of the permanent practicing license. This development has sparked outrage among Nigerian health workers on…

The World Bank has identified seven states in Nigeria’s Northwest and Northeast regions as potential hotspots for an impending food crisis.  This alarming prediction stems from heightened insecurity and armed conflicts, causing a decline in living standards across these regions. Fears of attacks and kidnappings have left some states unable to access farmlands, particularly in the eastern part, where bandit activities have disrupted farming activities.  Borno, Adamawa, Kaduna, Katsina, Yobe, Sokoto, and Zamfara states are the ones deemed most susceptible, according to the World Bank’s latest Food Security report.  The report further anticipates that West and Central Africa will remain…