Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Managing Director, Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Mr Fidet Okhiria, said that the corporation lost over 150,000 rail clips due to constant vandalism along railway tracks across the country between 2022 and 2023. Okhiria disclosed the end-of-the-year media briefing in Lagos on Thursday. He said that over 50,000 clips each had been vandalised between Lagos – Ibadan, Warri- Itakpe and Abuja -Kaduna standard gauge tracks between 2022 and 2023. Okhiria said that the corporation had engaged in constant sensitisation to communities where the vandalism took place to make them realise the implication of the act to the growth of rail…

In a significant crackdown, the Kano State Police Command announced on Thursday that it successfully dismantled a child trafficking syndicate involved in selling children from the state for staggering amounts ranging between N400,000 and N500,000 in Lagos, Anambra, and other southern states. The operation led to the rescue of seven children, aged between three and eight, from the nine-man syndicate.  Shockingly, investigations revealed that these children had been stolen as infants, and prior to being sold, their names were systematically changed to conceal their identities. Police Commissioner Mohammed Gumel disclosed these developments as he paraded the suspects at the Bompai…

In a notable turnaround, investors on the Nigerian Exchange Limited reaped substantial gains totaling N402 billion by the close of Thursday’s trading session, marking a recovery from the N139 billion loss incurred in the preceding session. Bullish sentiments, particularly in key stocks such as MTN Nigeria (+4.58%), Dangote Cement (+2.20%), Zenith Bank (+0.53%), and PZ (+1.35%), fueled this positive trend. The All-Share Index surged by 0.99% to reach 74,502.58 points, pushing the year-to-date gain to an impressive 45.37%. Concurrently, market capitalization increased by 0.99% to settle at N40.769 trillion, establishing record highs for both the ASI and market cap. The…

Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, has dismissed a report making the round on the alleged ban of alcoholic drinks in the state. Bago said this in a statement issued in Abuja on Wednesday. He said such a directive was neither issued by him nor his aides, adding that the public should disregard the report emanating from social media and blogs. According to him, my attention has been drawn to a report making the rounds of some blogs claiming that the Niger State Government, has prohibited the sale of alcohol. Read Also:Investigation: Contractor denies getting N60m contract Refugee Commission purportedly awarded…

In a significant legal development, Muhab Engineering Nigeria Limited is executing the ruling of the Bauchi High Court, led by Justice Mu’azu Abubakar, by seizing assets belonging to the Bauchi State Urban Planning and Development Board (BSUPDB) in an effort to recover a debt amounting to N62,545,051.19. The debt, comprised of principal and interest, stems from a 2011 legal action initiated by Muhab Engineering against BSUPDB.  The dispute arose due to the board’s failure to pay the engineering company 50% retention money for a contract awarded in 2009 for the Doya Outfall Drainage Channel in Bauchi Metropolis. Muhab Engineering has…

In a major breakthrough, the Kano State Police Command has successfully dismantled a notorious child trafficking gang that has been operating for a decade.  The syndicate’s operations spanned Kano, Bauchi, Anambra, and Imo states. At a press conference held on Thursday, CP Muhammad Usain Gumel, the Police Commissioner for Kano State, revealed that a series of arrests were made following an intensive crackdown on the criminal network.  The gang’s activities involved the abduction, purchase, and sale of minors from Bauchi and Kano states, with victims trafficked to collaborators in Lagos and Anambra states. The police’s swift action led to the…

Award-winning Super Falcon player, Asisat Oshoala said she presented her African Women Footballer of the Year award to President Bola Tinubu and First Lady, Oluremi, to appreciate the support of the first family to her and the team during the 2023 Women’s World Cup. Asisat spoke to journalists after presenting her Africa’s Best Female Football Player award to President Tinubu and his wife in Lagos. Asisat won the award organised by the Confederation of African Football earlier this month, the sixth time she was declared the best female football player in the continent. She told journalists that the presentation was…

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has expressed strong condemnation for the tragic killing of a truck driver, Malam Muhammad Bello, who was transporting humanitarian goods to a neighboring country.  The incident occurred on Tuesday along Dikwa-Gamboru Ngala Road in Dikwa Local Government Area. Governor Zulum, represented by Secretary to the State Government Dr. Bukar Tijani during a press conference in Maiduguri on Thursday, extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).  He emphasized the government’s firm stance against such violence, asserting, “The government cannot condone” such acts and called for…

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has declared three days of state mourning in honour of the late Rotimi Akeredolu, who was governor of Ondo State and Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum. The directive of Makinde, who is also the Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, is contained in a statement issued on Thursday in Ibadan by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Sulaimon Olanrewaju. Akeredolu died on Wednesday morning in Germany, where he had gone for medical treatment. He has been replaced as Ondo State governor by his erstwhile deputy, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa. Makinde said that all flags…

Zenith Bank Plc has once again affirmed its position as a trailblazer in the financial services sector by securing the coveted title of the “Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria” at the Euromoney Awards for Excellence 2023.  This recognition underscores the bank’s outstanding achievements and pioneering efforts in delivering cutting-edge digital financial solutions. Expressing his delight at this accolade, Dr. Ebenezer Onyeagwu, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Zenith Bank Plc, stated, “We are thrilled to be acknowledged as the Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria.  This recognition validates Zenith Bank’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of digital financial…