Author: Platform Times Newspaper

LThe Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) has taken the unprecedented step of indefinitely postponing the resumption of students for the 2023/2024 academic session, following a wave of student protests triggered by alleged fee hikes. In an official statement released on Monday, Mr. Adegbenro Adebanjo, the Director of Corporate Communication at FUTA, confirmed the management’s decision.  The university has also issued a directive for all students currently residing on campus and in university hostels to vacate within 24 hours. Adebanjo clarified that the registration and fee payment process for returning students, initially scheduled to commence on Monday, has been suspended. …

In a recent report released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, Nigeria grapples with a staggering inflation rate of 28.92% for the month of December 2023. The NBS findings reveal a notable increase from the November 2023 headline inflation rate, which stood at 28.20%.  Analyzing the movement, December’s figures show a significant uptick of 0.72 percentage points compared to the preceding month. On a year-on-year basis, the NBS underscores that December 2023’s headline inflation rate soared by 7.58 percentage points in contrast to the same period in 2022, reaching 21.34%. “This indicates a substantial year-on-year increase in…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC) has strongly refuted recent claims circulating on social media that almost all paracetamol tablets sold in Nigeria are under-dosed, dismissing the findings as misleading.  In a statement issued on Monday, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, the Director-General of NAFDAC, criticized the questionable scientific basis behind the research publication. Adeyeye clarified, stating, “NAFDAC is aware of a recent story alleging that nearly all paracetamol tablets sold in Nigeria are under-dosed.  We categorically state that the report is misleading, and the science is questionable.” Responding swiftly, the Director-General initiated a market survey, directing the sampling…

A Federal High Court in Abuja on Monday ordered Suleiman Dabo, the immediate-past member of Kaduna State House of Assembly representing Zaria Constituency, to be remanded in Kuje Correctional Centre pending a ruling on his bail plea. Justice James Omotosho gave the order following Dabo’s arraignment by the police on a seven-count charge bordering on alleged fraud to the tune of N30 million. Mr. Dabo was arraigned alongside his company, Ohman International Venture Ltd., in the charge marked: FHC/ABJ/CR/363/2021, as the 1st and 2nd defendant. In count one, the ex-lawmaker and his company, sometime in October and November 2017, were…

Daud Olatunji The socio-cultural organization, De Renaissance Patriots, raises concerns over the heedless exploitation of Lagos State’s heritage by non-indigenes, often facilitated through state political powers and collaboration with unsuspecting locals. In its third release, the group highlights the alarming depth of misdevelopment, emphasizing the unfortunate lack of awareness among some indigenes. Recent revelations expose the acquisition of ‘fake’ indigeneship letters or their purchase by non-indigenes, enabling them to exploit opportunities intended for Lagos indigenes, such as recruitment into the Nigeria Army.  Despite official comments and promised actions from the Army, De Renaissance Patriots urges Lieutenant General Taoreed Lagbaja, the…

In a significant development for Nigeria’s energy sector, seven major oil marketers have received approval from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery to distribute refined petroleum products produced by the $20 billion facility.  The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) confirmed that, with this registration, they are poised to commence the distribution of fuel from the refinery once commercial terms are finalized. The approved major marketers include 11 Plc, Conoil Plc, Ardova Plc, MRS Oil Nigeria Plc, OVH Energy Marketing Limited, Total Nigeria Plc, and NNPC Retail.  This comes after the Dangote Petroleum Refinery announced the commencement of production of Automotive…

A somber atmosphere enveloped Sogbesan Street, Oluwo area of Abeokuta, Ogun State, last Wednesday as the lifeless body of a serving National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) member, Medaiyese Emmanuel, was discovered in his apartment. The unfortunate incident came to light when Emmanuel’s concerned mother, unable to reach him on his mobile phone, sought assistance from one of his friends, Olumide. Distressed by the unavailability of Emmanuel, the mother, in collaboration with Olumide and other neighbors, initiated a check on the corps member at his Sogbesan residence. Eyewitness Toyo revealed, “Olumide left his room for the corps member’s apartment to discover…

In a swift operation, So-Safe Corps, the Ogun State-owned security outfit, apprehended a 21-year-old commercial tricyclist, Ridwan Lukman, for allegedly raping a 14-year-old groundnut hawker in the Ota area of the state. Lukman was taken into custody in the early hours of Wednesday by So-Safe officers during a routine patrol in the area.  The suspect was allegedly attempting to force himself on the 14-year-old victim when the security operatives intervened. Upon arrest, Lukman denied the allegations, claiming that he misunderstood the girl’s actions, thinking she was making advances towards him as he patronized her. However, upon further investigation, the victim…

…Abiodun Receives Kudos Over Improved Service In Abeokuta …Expert Warns Against Indiscriminate Borehole Drilling In an exclusive investigation, PLATFORM TIMES delves into the staggering expenditure of N26,8billion  by the Ogun State government between 2020 and 2023 to enhance water supply for residents.  Despite this substantial investment, nearly 90% of the state’s population still lacks access to pipe-borne water, revealing critical challenges in water distribution. DAUD OLATUNJI captures the mood. Between 2020 and 2023, a staggering sum of N26,821,150,711.1591 was allocated for water supply, salary of the workers, capital expemditures and others logistics, showcasing the administration’s determination to address water…

Troops from the 192 Battalion, 81 Division, Nigerian Army, successfully intercepted a suspected transnational drug syndicate along the Balogun border in Ogun State on Sunday. Acting on credible intelligence, the vigilant troops discovered 296 wraps of illicit substances, believed to be Cannabis Sativa, concealed in a Sienna 2001 Model Space Bus with registration number Lagos APP 129 EF. Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, the Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed the operation in an official statement on Sunday.  The suspects, Adigun Olatunji (54 years) and Michael Atanda (18 years), both residents of Ilara Imeko in Afun Local Government Area of Ogun…