Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) are set to participate in the 2024 Migration Dialogue, organized by the Journalists International Forum for Migration (JIFORM).  This event, aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of journalists and other professionals involved in migration matters, is scheduled to take place virtually via Zoom on Saturday, August 10th, with participants from several countries expected to attend. Highlighting the event will be Paola Pace, the Deputy Chief of Mission for IOM Nigeria, who will deliver a keynote address titled “Migration Trends: Threats and…

Former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Timi Frank, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detainees arrested by police and security forces during protests against the high cost of living in Nigeria.  Frank emphasized the need for a compassionate approach, urging Tinubu to act as a paternal figure dealing with aggrieved citizens to prevent further violence and the use of lethal force against peaceful demonstrators. Addressing the international community, Frank called for vigilant monitoring of the ongoing protests and the heavy-handed response from security forces.  He urged the United States, United Kingdom,…

Hoodlums wielding planks violently dispersed #EndBadGovernance protesters at Gani Fawehinmi Park in Ojota, Lagos State, on Sunday morning. The protesters, who had gathered to voice their dissatisfaction with the current administration, were forced to flee as the hoodlums launched a fierce attack. The protest, which had been relatively peaceful, took a violent turn around 10:30 am when a major disagreement broke out among the organizers.  A lawyer known simply as JP attempted to address the protesters, urging them to leave the protest grounds following President Bola Tinubu’s recent address to the nation.  However, another faction led by 70-year-old Adegboyega…

Food inflation in Nigeria has reached a staggering 40 per cent, according to the latest data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  surge has pushed the prices of essential commodities beyond the reach of millions of Nigerians, sparking widespread concern over food security in the country. Despite these alarming figures, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari, has assured Nigerians that the nation is on the brink of a significant agricultural turnaround.  Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics, Kyari revealed that the country is expecting a bumper harvest by the end of…

The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has directed all institutions to disclose within one month, details of all candidates they illegally admitted prior to 2017 or risk recognition and condonment. Dr Fabian Benjamin, the board’s Public Communication Advisor (CPA), disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the board’s headquarters on Sunday, in Abuja. Benjamin said that the board had resolved that it would no longer entertain absorption of illegal admissions by institutions through the window of “Condonment of Illegal Admissions”, without a registration number. The move, he explained, was aimed at curbing illegal admissions, falsification of records and ensuring compliance…

Benue State Governor Hyacinth Alia has approved the removal of John Chem, the chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission (BSIEC).  The decision follows accusations from the state house of assembly regarding Chem’s alleged poor judgement in his role. On Wednesday, the Benue state house of assembly leveled serious allegations against Chem, asserting that his tenure was marred by decisions that failed to meet public interest and stakeholder expectations.  The assembly’s resolution called for his immediate removal from office. In a statement released on Thursday, Tersoo Kula, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Alia, confirmed the governor’s action.  “Governor Alia…

The International Press Centre (IPC) has expressed grave concern over the increasing number of attacks on journalists by security agents and hoodlums, viewing them as deliberate efforts to suppress truthful reporting on ongoing protests. On Thursday, officials from the office of the National Security Adviser abducted and confiscated the camera and phones of Kayode Jaiyeola, a photojournalist from The PUNCH.  As of the time of filing this report, his belongings have not been returned. The situation escalated further on Friday in the Federal Capital Territory when police officers fired teargas at journalists covering a protest at the Berger roundabout.  The…

Daud Olatunji  In a nationwide broadcast on Sunday, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu  has said that his government has taken some  measures to  reduce Nigeria’s debt service expenditure from 97% to 68 percent of revenues and cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5 billion. He said “coming from a place where our country spent 97% of all our revenue on debt service; we have been able to reduce that to 68% in the last 13 months. “ We have also cleared legitimate outstanding foreign exchange obligations of about $5billion without any adverse impact on our programmes. …

Quadri Yahya Claim:  Reports in the media quoted Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun as saying “Nigerians are sore losers”. Verdict: While the governor did make the statement that Nigerians are sore losers, the government office has cleared the air that the statement’s referent is not the general citizens but some opposition parties. Full Text:  As angry and hungry citizens protest in different parts of the country, government officials at both the federal and state levels have addressed citizens  during media and public appearances. The Ogun State governor, Dapo  Abiodun, while appearing on Channels TV on Wednesday…

A violent confrontation on Saturday left the residents of Kurna, Rijiyar Lemo, and Bachirawa quarters in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State in mourning.  Ten individuals were shot, and seven reportedly died during a protest that escalated into chaos. The unrest followed a nationwide protest on Thursday in Kano, which turned violent with widespread looting and destruction of property worth billions of naira.  In response, the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew, briefly relaxed on Friday to allow residents to observe the congregational Jumu’ah prayer from noon to 5 p.m. Defying the curfew on Saturday, youths in Kurna, Rijiyar…