Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Ademola Adeleke, the Governor of Osun State, has announced plans to issue an executive order pardoning all women unjustly incarcerated in the state. In a statement released by Olawale Rasheed, the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Adeleke made this declaration following extensive intergovernmental discussions between the Osun government and the Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja. Adeleke emphasized that he had instructed the state’s Commissioner for Justice to draft the executive order, citing the spirit of Lent, Easter, and Ramadan as his motivation. Furthermore, the Governor disclosed that the Justice Ministry would compile a comprehensive list of affected women from across…

Daud Olatunji Segun Olatunji, Editor of FirstNews Online Newspaper, has bravely shared his harrowing experience while in captivity after being abducted by gunmen in military uniform. The terrifying incident unfolded on March 15 when armed assailants stormed Olatunji’s residence in the Iyana Odo area of Abule Egba, Lagos State, and forcibly abducted him. Recounting his ordeal during a press briefing organized by the leaderships of Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and International Press Institute (IPI) shortly after his release, Olatunji revealed shocking details of his captivity. “At first, they put me in a cell. There…

A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress, Honorable Kikelomo Ikuomola has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 72nd birthday, warning him to be careful of people that may want to sabotage his efforts. Ikuomola in a congratulatory message to the President noted that Tinubu is the right man to lead the country at this period of economic crisis among other issues bedeviling the nation. While describing Tinubu as a democrat and visionary leader who is passionately committed to better Nigeria, the APC stalwart urged the president to rely on God and not give room for any cabal to take…

In a breaking development, Segun Olatunji, the editor of FirstNews online newspaper, has been released from captivity barely two weeks after his abduction from his residence. According to a message from the Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Dr. Iyobosa Uwugiaren, Olatunji was handed over to the NGE this morning. Numerous prominent organizations, including the NGE, the International Press Institute Nigeria chapter, and the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), had appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and secure Olatunji’s release from the custody of the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA). Olatunji, reportedly taken by 15 soldiers from his…

Fuel marketers across Nigeria are calling on the Federal Government to reconsider the ban on the supply of petroleum products in border communities, citing significant adverse effects on their businesses. The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi, expressed these concerns. The ban, implemented by the former administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019, aimed to curb illegal activities such as fuel smuggling and diversion. However, since the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, calls for lifting the ban have intensified, with appeals from Nigerians and the National Assembly.…

In a bid to bolster education and agricultural sectors across Nigeria, the country’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has initiated plans to intervene in 36 universities and support 3,600 farmers nationwide through the Renewed Hope Initiative. During a recent quarterly meeting with Renewed Hope Initiative Zonal and State Coordinators, comprising wives of state governors, Mrs. Tinubu outlined the intervention strategy. She tasked the governors’ wives to nominate one tertiary institution and 100 farmers from each state for these projects, emphasizing the importance of education in empowering women and enabling them to make informed decisions about their health and well-being. Mrs. Tinubu’s…

In a significant breakthrough, the Rivers State Police Command has apprehended a juju priest, identified as Ugochukwu Onuigbo, along with 25 other individuals suspected of being part of a car-snatching syndicate operating within the state. The suspects were paraded on Wednesday at the Command Headquarters on Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, where the Commissioner of Police, Olatunji Disu, provided details of their arrest. According to Disu, the arrests came after a concerted effort by the tactical team and investigators, following a noticeable surge in car theft and robbery incidents in the area. He revealed that investigations uncovered a sophisticated operation,…

In a significant move gearing up for the 2027 presidential race, the Labour Party has officially announced its presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Gregory Obi. The current party leader has been selected to represent the party in the upcoming election, as revealed in a statement released post the party’s National Convention held in Nnewi, Anambra State, on Wednesday. The post-convention communique emphasized Mr. Obi’s track record, both preceding and following the 2023 General Election, as a pivotal factor in his candidacy. Moreover, the party affirmed a right of first refusal for Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, should he chooses to seek…

The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has granted a $50 million loan aimed at fortifying climate resilience, enhancing food security, and uplifting the livelihoods of the people of Yobe State . PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the loan, sanctioned by AfDB under the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Change Action Project (ECCAP), seeks to tackle pressing challenges faced by the state’s predominantly agrarian community, exacerbated by inter-communal conflicts and armed insurgencies. Under the ECCAP, a comprehensive project estimated at $101.34 million, AfDB is slated to provide the bulk of the funding, with an allocation of $50 million, while the Arab Bank…

In a heartening display of philanthropy, the Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has extended a lifeline to vulnerable individuals in Lagos State by donating 80,000 bags of 10kg rice to alleviate hardship amidst prevailing economic challenges. The distribution of the rice, a part of the foundation’s larger initiative, commenced at the State House in Ikeja, Lagos, with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Chairman of the foundation, Aliko Dangote, among others, gracing the event. Mr. Dangote emphasized that the gesture was a testament to the foundation’s commitment to uphold compassion and solidarity, fundamental values crucial for humanity’s welfare. Additionally, he highlighted the foundation’s…