Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  The defence team of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu  led by Alloy Ejimakor, has invoked Section 17 of the Federal High Court Act, which allows the court to promote reconciliation and facilitate amicable settlements.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  plea followed the denial of Kanu’s application to quash seven remaining charges against him. The court dismissed Kanu’s fresh application challenging its jurisdiction over several counts, ruling that it could not overrule decisions already made.  The court indicated that Kanu’s only recourse was to appeal these decisions.  Addressing the Federal High Court…

Daud Olatunji Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has officially approved the appointment of Oba Akinloye Olakunlehin as the 43rd Olubadan of Ibadanland.  This announcement was made by the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Olusegun Olayiwola, in a statement released on Wednesday in Ibadan, the state capital. The governor’s approval was conveyed through a memo dated June 14, 2024.  In the memo, Governor Makinde exercised the authority granted to him by Section 19 (Cap 28) Law of Oyo State 2000, as amended.  This statutory power allows the governor to make decisions regarding chieftaincy appointments and other related…

Daud Olatunji  A revealing report has surfaced, indicating that 32 out of Nigeria’s 36 states heavily rely on federal allocations to sustain their operations.  This data, highlighted in the “State of States 2023” report by BudgIT, underscores the persistent fiscal dependency of the majority of Nigerian states on federal transfers. Nigeria has 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. According to PLATFORM TIMES, the BudgIT report disclosed that 16 of these 32 states depend on the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC) for at least 70% of their total revenue.  Despite a notable increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) across…

Buba Galadima, a prominent figure in the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), has openly expressed his profound disappointment in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership.  Galadima, once an ardent supporter of Buhari, aired his grievances during a candid interview on Arise TV’s Prime Time programme on Tuesday. “Even those people you can vouch for that are good people and people who could perform end up disappointing, a good example is Buhari, I could have bet my life for Buhari on certain issues but….” Galadima stated. His criticism is particularly noteworthy given his history of unwavering support for Buhari. Galadima’s departure from…

The World Health Organization (WHO) has unveiled a startling statistic, saying, developing countries are spending an estimated $110 billion each year on medical expenses due to the consumption of unsafe food.  This revelation underscores the critical need for enhanced food safety measures worldwide. In light of these findings, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has urged stakeholders in the food supply chain to take deliberate actions to cultivate a culture of food safety. Speaking at the 2024 World Food Safety Day, which adopted the theme “Food Safety: Prepare for the…

Rivers State is currently experiencing heightened political tension following the expiration of the three-year tenures of local council chairmen.  The tension escalated yesterday when 21 out of the 23 outgoing council chairmen refused to comply with Governor Siminalaye Fubara’s directive to hand over control to the top civil servants in the councils. Governor Fubara responded to the defiance by summoning an emergency state security council meeting at the Government House in Port Harcourt.  The meeting, attended by heads of all security agencies in the state, was conducted behind closed doors.  In a subsequent press briefing, Governor Fubara emphasized the importance…

There are growing concerns that a lack of funds could jeopardize the development of modular refinery projects in Nigeria, which collectively aim to produce 200,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).  PLATFORM TIMES gathered that out of 40 licenses issued to companies to operate modular refineries, only five are currently operational. The licensees are facing significant challenges in securing financing, prompting the federal government to consider revoking the licenses of those unable to progress with their plans.  The Crude Oil Refiners Association of Nigeria (CORAN) has 14 registered members, including the prominent Dangote Refinery. If all active licenses were operational,…

The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has accused Peter Obi, a former presidential candidate from the Labour Party, and other critics of the government’s plan to acquire new aircraft for the presidential fleet, of harbouring malicious intentions towards President Bola Tinubu.  The accusation was made in a statement signed by MURIC’s Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola. MURIC’s allegations come in response to comments made by Peter Obi on June 17, 2024, where he criticized the federal government’s intention to purchase new planes for the presidency.  Akintola suggested that Obi’s opposition to the new aircraft stems from a desire to see harm…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has sharply rebuked Senator Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State and the 2023 presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), over his recent accusations.  Kwankwaso had claimed that the APC-led federal government was allegedly attempting to foster a new breed of Boko Haram terrorists and insurgents in Northern Nigeria. The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka,stated this in  a statement he issued  on Tuesday.  Morka described Kwankwaso’s allegations as “grossly insensitive, unwarranted, and unacceptable,” criticizing the senator for making such serious claims without evidence. “Without any shred of evidence, he further…

Daud Olatunji Former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam  Nasir El-Rufai has predicted  that the current Governor of the state, Uba Sani’s actions would eventually lead to his downfall. El-Rufai  expressed confidence that the ongoing investigation into his administration by the state House of Assembly would ultimately be ineffective.  Speaking to his associates during Sallah celebrations, El-Rufai appeared untroubled by the probe, suggesting that it would not achieve its intended outcome. El-Rufai’s comments  included a metaphorical warning about the behavior of current Governor Uba Sani.  He advised his followers to avoid direct confrontation with Sani’s aides,  “Support the governor and his cabinet…