Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar expressed discontent with the progress of the American University of Nigeria (AUN), which he established 19 years ago, lamenting its failure to fully realize its potential under current management. During this year’s Founder’s Day celebrations, Atiku revealed that his primary goal in founding AUN was to contribute to society, not to gain political office.  In his address, titled “AUN in the Age of Socio-Economic Crisis and Emerging Disruptive Technologies,” he indirectly criticized leadership transitions and managerial challenges that hindered the institution’s development. Despite investing personal funds without seeking financial returns, Atiku emphasized the…

Daud Olatunji The Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, has ordered the remand of prominent Lagos hotelier Joseph Umezugha, widely known as Agbara, in Ikoyi Prison. Agbala, the proprietor of De Jessica Hotel, is facing allegations of a staggering N627 million fraud, accused of swindling three businessmen with eerily similar tales of partnership in his hotel venture. The court, currently presiding over one of the cases with suit number FHC/L/239C/2023, has denied Agbala bail, emphasizing the need to avoid impeding ongoing investigations The charges against Agbala include the forgery of a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy, allegedly used to obtain…

Daud Olatunji In a decisive move to uphold the integrity of the Public Relations profession, the Compliance and Enforcement Committee of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has unveiled a comprehensive plan to tackle unlicensed practitioners.  Chaired by General Chris Olukolade (Rtd), the committee is set to establish NIPR Tribunals, signaling a robust crackdown on individuals practicing Public Relations without proper certification. This was disclosed in a  statement issued by the Barr. Paul Abraham, Assistant Secretary NIPR Act Enforcement & Compliance Committee on Monday. According to the statement, during the inaugural meeting, General Olukolade, a former Director Defence Information,…

The African Development Bank (AfDB) has committed to providing Nigeria with a $134 million loan, a crucial component of the National Agricultural Growth Scheme and AgroPocket (NAGS-AP) Project.  The initiative aims to enhance the capacity of farmers involved in cultivating essential staples such as rice, maize, cassava, and wheat across the nation. The announcement was made by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, during the launch of this year’s Wheat Dry Season farming in Jigawa State over the weekend.  Kyari emphasized that the loan would contribute to a projected 20% increase in crop yield compared to the…

Daud Olatunji In a bid to foster progress and empower higher education institutions, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has  announced the government’s contemplation of reintroducing the Policy of University Full Autonomy.  The move, disclosed by Minister Abubakar Momoh at the University of Benin’s 48th convocation ceremony, reflects the government’s belief that university autonomy will pave the way for individualized development. Tinubu expressed confidence in the proposed policy, emphasizing that it would shift the responsibility of performance directly to the institutions, offering a remedy to the current uncertainties.  Acknowledging concerns over months of unpaid salaries, Tinubu addressed the issue by announcing a…

ISRAEL ADELEKE writes on the ordeal and  agony  of the community that confronts  150 years of lack of  electricity, the ruinous effects of poor roads and the persistent absence of other infrastructural amenities. In the heart of Asha village, a community in the Obafemi-Owode local government area of Ogun State, faced with a myriad of challenges, life flows like the river that sustains them – unpredictable, challenging, and essential.  On a sunny Sunday afternoon, PLATFORM TIMES reporter embarked on a journey to Asha, an agrarian village with a rich history spanning over 150 years.  The mission  was to uncover the…

Daud Olatunji The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, has unveiled a concerning trend where numerous Nigerians are falling prey to deceptive entities offering petition processing services.  Adejobi said the deceitful practice has not only obstructed the due attention petitions deserve but has also deprived many of justice. Making a clear stance, the Nigeria Police asserts that it does not endorse or employ agents to receive and process petitions from citizens.  The force PRO stated this in a statement issued on Sunday,adding that the unauthorized individuals exploit unsuspecting petitioners, extracting large sums of money under the false pretense of…

A women’s group on Sunday,  held a protest on  the streets of Kano state, vehemently protesting the recent Court of Appeal decision that removed Abba Kabir Yusuf as the Governor of Kano State.  Expressing deep disappointment with the broader landscape of election-related court rulings, the protesters, undeterred by a police ban, brought attention to what they perceive as a controversial manipulation of the law in favor of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC). Brandishing placards and rallying behind chants in support of Governor Abba Yusuf, the women reached the state police command, submitting a letter outlining their grievances…

The Kogi State government has issued a query to Alhaji Abdulrasaq Gambo Isa Koto, the Ohimege-Igu Kotonkarfe, over accusations of partisanship and failure to maintain peace during a visit by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka. The query, dated November 22 and signed by Barrister Salami Deedat, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, expressed grave concern over the traditional ruler’s alleged involvement in partisan politics, which purportedly resulted in a political crisis leading to the unfortunate death of a young lady in Koto-Karfe. The letter emphasized the contradiction of the traditional ruler’s actions with the…

The Lagos State Police Command has apprehended Benjamin Ezeukwe, 28, the alleged mastermind behind an intricate scam that targeted unsuspecting Nigerians in a counterfeit Dangote Cement price slash. The arrest, confirmed by SP Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer, comes after weeks of relentless investigation by officers of the “Area A” police command. Ezeukwe was apprehended on October 19, 2023, in the Rumuolumeni area of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.  Upon his arrest, law enforcement found incriminating items in his possession, including a Tecno phone, an iPhone, three SIM cards – one of which, bearing the number…