Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has sanctioned a substantial budget to bolster the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in its ongoing fight against narcotics.  At the Council meeting chaired by President Bola Tinubu, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Dr. Lateef Fagbemi, announced the approval of $1.442 million for the procurement of arms, ammunition, and equipment for the NDLEA. This funding is part of a broader strategy to enhance the agency’s operational capabilities.  Dr. Fagbemi revealed that an additional N1.99 billion has been allocated for the purchase of 33 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) compliant vehicles. …

The House of Representatives has issued a stern ultimatum to the Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Mobile Telephone Network (MTN) and Airtel Nigeria, demanding their presence at a committee hearing or face a subpoena. This directive was announced during a public hearing on a bill aimed at regulating corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Nigeria. Chairman of the House Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility, Hon. (Prof) Oby Orogbu, delivered the warning during the hearing held in Abuja.  Orogbu expressed frustration over the repeated failure of MTN and Airtel to honour the committee’s invitations, stressing  the legal obligations under Section 89, 8…

Justice Kehinde Ogundare of the Federal High Court in Lagos struck out the charges against popular celebrity bartender Pascal Okechukwu, famously known as Cubana Chief Priest, concerning allegations of Naira abuse.  The ruling, delivered on Tuesday, followed the adoption of a settlement agreement between the parties involved. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had initially arraigned Okechukwu on April 17, 2024, on three counts related to the alleged spraying and tampering with Naira notes during a social event held at the Eko Hotel in Lagos.  The charges were grounded on the alleged misuse of Naira notes in denominations of…

The Nigerian Army has denied allegations that it is recruiting Islamic fundamentalists and jihadists. The Army said this while  addressing concerns raised in a viral video circulating on social media.  The video, which depicts an officer allegedly encouraging Muslim young men to join the military to protect and propagate Islam, has been branded as misleading and false by the Army. In a statement released on Tuesday, Maj. Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, asserted that the video aims to incite religious tension in the country.  “The Nigerian Army (NA) has been drawn to an audio-visual recording circulating…

The number of electricity consumers rose by 210,000 from 12.12 million in the fourth quarter of 2023 to 12.33 million in the first quarter of 2024. The National Bureau of Statistics stated in its Electricity Report for the first quarter (Q1) of 2024 released on Tuesday in Abuja that the increase was by 1.78 per cent. The  review focuses on energy billed, revenue generated, and customers by DISCOS under the reviewed period. It stated that on a year-on-year basis, the number of electricity customers increased by 9.47 per cent in Q1 2024 from 11.27 million reported in…

Daud Olatunji The Gombe State Police Command has arrested and paraded the village head of Garin Majidadi in Akko Local Government Area and a councillor representing Kumo East for allegedly stealing and selling a community transformer.  The suspects include Muhammad Majidadi, the village head, Abdullahi M. Panda, the councillor, and Muhammad Sani from Sarkin Yaki Quarters. The arrests followed reports indicating that the suspects had stolen and sold the transformer, which was essential for providing electricity to their community.  ASP Buhari Abdullahi, the police spokesperson, revealed during the parade of the suspects that credible intelligence from the Akko division led…

A  pilgrim from Gumi Local Government Area of Zamfara State, Nigeria, Muhammad Na’Allah, has returned the sum of €1,750 (equivalent to approximately N2.8 million). The pilgrim reportedly  found the money  at the Haram in Makkah.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Na’Allah took the money to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) for it to be returned to its rightful owner. It was further gathered that Na’Allah was escorted to the NAHCON office in Ummuljud, Makkah by officials from the Zamfara State Pilgrims Welfare Board.  The chairman and CEO of NAHCON, Malam Jalal Ahmad Arabi,  received  the returned money.  In his…

Daud Olatunji Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salisu, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, has cleared the air over a recent viral video on social media. The video, capturing an incident at the Egba Central praying ground in Lantoro, Abeokuta, during the Eid prayers on Sunday, June 16, 2024, shows a security aide of the Senator pushing a young man who appeared to reach for the Senator. In a statement issued and signed by Adetunji Adeteye, Head of SAS Media, on behalf of Senator Salisu, the Senator clarified his position and the context surrounding the incident. The statement stressed that Senator Salisu was…

Daud Olatunji In a troubling development surrounding the Ogun State housing scheme, one of the applicants has reportedly suffered a stroke due to the ongoing delays in house allocations.  This revelation came to light during a recent broadcast of “Oju-Awo,” a popular radio program anchored by Akinyemi Olatoye, also known as Alawiye Federation monitored by PLATFORM TIMES.  The show featured an interview with Olumuyiwa Oludaisi, one of the 235 applicants still awaiting their promised homes since 2021. Oludaisi, speaking passionately on the programme, recounted his frustrating experience with the housing scheme.  He said “the government had a good intention for…

The cryptocurrency market is facing escalating losses after experiencing its second-worst weekly decline in 2024.  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the downturn is largely driven by reduced demand for Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), uncertainties surrounding the U.S. Federal Reserve’s monetary policy, and a weakened appetite for digital assets.  The market’s plunge marks the steepest decline since April. Bitcoin’s price plummeted by nearly 5%, settling at $61,000, a value below its one-month low.  This sharp decline follows a six-day streak of withdrawals from U.S. ETFs focused on the digital asset, which has significantly impacted Bitcoin, the top token by market value.  In…