Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a directive issued on Tuesday, the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global transparency organization, called upon the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to furnish detailed information regarding its 20% equity stake in the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, valued at $20 billion. The EITI delegation, present in Nigeria, emphasized the necessity for increased transparency, asserting that NNPCL had not sufficiently clarified its interest in the refinery during their visit. Alex Gordy, the EITI Technical Director, addressing journalists at the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative headquarters in Abuja, highlighted the need for accountability in NNPCL’s acquisition of the equity. “NNPCL…

In a significant initiative spanning three years, UNICEF has successfully trained approximately 285,000 children orphaned by the Boko Haram insurgency, as well as vulnerable children, in basic literacy and numeracy.  This endeavor, known as the Teaching at the Right Level initiative, was made possible through funding from the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office of the British government. The project, now in its third year, aims to provide safe, inclusive, and high-quality learning opportunities for children, with a special focus on girls, those with disabilities, and those affected by conflict.  Mustapha Shehu, the Education Officer at UNICEF’s Maiduguri Field Office, emphasized the…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has announced the distribution of a total sum of N1.13 trillion in earnings for December 2023, among the Federal Government, States, and Local Government Councils.  This marks an increase of N500 billion compared to the N1.08 trillion shared in November. In a communique released after its January 2024 meeting, chaired by the Accountant General of the Federation, Dr. Oluwatoyin Madein, FAAC detailed the composition of the N1.13 trillion distributable revenue.  The breakdown includes distributable statutory revenue of N363.188 billion, distributable Value Added Tax (VAT) revenue of N458.622 billion, Electronic Money Transfer Levy revenue of…

Daud Olatunji The 60-year-old immediate-past Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, became a sacrificial lamb on Tuesday as he was impeached by 18 out of 26 lawmakers. Oluomo was impeached while he was a few kilometers away from the chamber, attending a public event with the state governor, Dapo Abiodun. His impeachment, however, was a smooth ride except for pockets of violence that erupted when security operatives attempted to foil the impeachment of  Oluomo. An eyewitness hinted  PLATFORM TIMES that the lawmakers who had perfected the plot dragged the deputy speaker Bolanle Ajayi…

The Civil Society Coalition on Sustainable Development (CSCSD), a network of over 150 civil society organizations working on sustainable development issues in Nigeria, has issued a press statement warning of the rising insecurity in the country. The statement, issued on Tuesday by the coalition’s National Coordinator, Tola Winjobi(PhD), listed various security challenges plaguing regions in the North, East, South and West, such as bandit attacks, kidnappings, militant groups, abductions, and violent clashes. The coalition said these incidents threaten the nation’s stability and the well-being of its citizens. It therefore called on the government to take immediate and decisive action to…

 In a heartwarming video released on Tuesday, renowned Nigerian Fuji musician Alhaji Kollington Ayinla expressed his gratitude from his hospital bed at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja.  The 74-year-old, who had been hospitalized for over a week, shared a 3:13 seconds video acknowledging God, the hospital management, and others for his improved health. Kollington, born in August 1949, had faced a critical health condition, necessitating oxygen support during his stay at LASUTH.  In the video, he revealed that his situation was dire, expressing profound gratitude to the dedicated health workers and medical practitioners who played a pivotal…

 Daud Olatunji  A recent investigation  has uncovered that there is no truth to the rumours of a financial dispute between former President Muhammadu Buhari’s ex-personal assistant, Tunde Sabiu Yusuf, and billionaire oil mogul Alhaji Auwalu Abdullahi Rano, popularly known as AA Rano, over a purported $400 million. Contrary to earlier reports,  no evidence of Sabiu slapping AA Rano for alleged financial discrepancies was confirmed .  It was also gathered that  there was no business relationship between the two men that would warrant such a dispute over funds.  investigation also dismissed claims of AA Rano’s involvement in the alleged looting of…

Daud Olatunji The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded its investigations into the alleged money laundering activities of former Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, and is set to arraign him before Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Obiano, who is accused of misappropriating N4,008,573,350 belonging to the Anambra State government during his tenure, was arrested at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Lagos, on March 17, 2022, as he prepared to board a flight to Houston, USA. It was further gathered that the  arrest came after he had been on the EFCC’s…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) announced on Tuesday that a total of 137 distressed Nigerians, including an infant, have been successfully repatriated from Mali.  The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) facilitated their return, as disclosed in a brief statement posted on NEMA’s social media handle. The returnees, consisting of 28 adult females, 78 adult males, 12 female children, 18 male children, and 1 female infant, arrived at the Cargo Wing of the Murtala Muhammad International Airport in Lagos.  Their journey was facilitated by Sky Mali Air, operating under flight number UR-CQX, and the aircraft touched down at approximately 1400…

By Daud Olatunji The Ogun State coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Nasamu Olayinka Diana, has refuted claims circulating in the media regarding the alleged death of a corps member serving in the state. Contrary to reports that a corpse was found in a bush near the Kadesh area of Ogijo, Sagamu, Ogun state, Nasamu insists that the deceased was not affiliated with the NYSC. Reports surfaced on Sunday, suggesting that residents discovered the body of an unidentified corps member and promptly informed the police.  Nasamu, however, dismissed these claims, asserting that investigations by the police revealed the…