Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Deborah Hundenu In a bid to provide essential healthcare services to underserved communities, the Rotary Club of Abeokuta Royal, led by President, Rotarian Adetonike Ganiyat Kazeem, and two others ; Rotary Club Olumo Sunrise and Rotary Club Ibara GRA  have jointly commenced their  annual Family Health Week. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the initiative, running from October 24 to 26, offers free health screenings, including malaria, HIV, and prostate cancer tests, to market traders and residents in Abeokuta. Speaking at the Mobile Phone Dealers and Technicians Association, TAMAC Oke-Ilewo, the president of  Rotary Club Abeokuta Royal said the exercise would be…

Daud Olatunji The Ogun State Government has allocated a staggering N83.79 billion on its top 20 most expensive capital projects,and set aside N18.97 billion for monitoring and evaluation in the 2024 budget. The State Governor, Dapo Abiodun had last year  presented a total of N703,028,013,431.64 as the Year 2024 Appropriation Bill to the State legislature, out of which N415. 66bn was earmarked for Capital Expenditure while recurrent expenditure to gulp N287. 37bn. According to data obtained from the Tracka, a Nigerian civic tech platform and non-governmental organization focused on promoting transparency and accountability in government spending, particularly in relation to…

Ngozi, a former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance of South-East Nigerian extraction, made the disclaimer in a post on her X account where she attached a screenshot of the alleged Ekpa’s claim. The Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has disowned an alleged claim by Finland-based self-acclaimed leader of Biafran government, Simon Ekpa, that she supported him in securing $57.5 billion to form the Biafran government. Ngozi, a former Nigeria’s Minister of Finance of South-East Nigerian extraction, made the disclaimer in a post on her X account where she attached a screenshot of the alleged Ekpa’s claim. Ekpa…

The African Action Congress (AAC) in Oyo State has strongly criticized a recent bill proposing the creation of a New Oyo State with Oyo town as its capital, labeling the move as a plot by the Alaafin royal family to further its interests. The bill, which passed its second reading in the House of Representatives on Tuesday, was sponsored by Hon. Akeem Adeniyi Adeyemi, representing Afijio/Oyo/Atiba federal constituency, alongside six others. The bill suggests renaming the remaining parts of Oyo State as Ibadan State, with Ibadan City as the capital. The proposed states would also include a redefinition of local…

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has declared that the people of the South-West will not support the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 general elections, citing the economic hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the ruling party. Makinde, the leader of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the South-West, stated that Yoruba people across the region had realized their mistake in backing President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 elections. He emphasized that the region, which comprises key states like Oyo, Ondo, Lagos, and Ogun, would reconsider its stance in the next election cycle. The governor made this known during a…

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…