Author: Platform Times Newspaper

 Dr Gambo Aliyu, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), has  revealed that an estimated 1.8 million Nigerians are currently living with HIV. Of this staggering number, approximately 1.63 million individuals are undergoing treatment with Antiretroviral Therapy (ART). PLATFORM TIMES gathered that a press briefing was held in Abuja on Fridayto mark World AIDS Day which is observed annually on December 1, serves as a global initiative to prevent new infections, enhance HIV awareness, and commemorate those affected by the disease. The theme for this year, “Communities: Leadership to End AIDS by 2030,” underscores the…

Daud Olatunji The  Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun has  expressed concern over the acute manpower shortage in the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), noting that the current workload often requires one officer to perform the duties of two. Addressing officers at the Kwara State Police Command,In a one-day working visit to the state  Egbetokun highlighted the challenges faced by the force. “With approximately 370,000 officers in the Force, it’s evident that there’s a shortage of manpower. “One policeman today does the job of two policemen,” he emphasized during his visit to the command’s headquarters in Ilorin on Friday. The…

Daud Olatunji Dangote Cement Plc’s Group Managing Director, Mr. Arvind Pathak, has attributed a compelling vision for sustainable cement production as a key strategy in combating climate change.  Pathak said this at the 12th Africa Cement Trade Summit, organized by the Singapore-based Center for Management, brought together industry leaders to discuss the pressing challenges facing the cement sector. In his presentation titled “Utilisation of Alternative Fuels as a Strategy for Sustainable Cement Production in Africa,” Pathak emphasized the imperative of decarbonization in the cement industry.  He highlighted the energy-intensive nature of cement production and underscored the pivotal role of alternative…

Daud Olatunji In a landmark decision, the Bayelsa State High Court has convicted Professor Saviour Nathan Agoro, the former Provost of Isaac Jasper College of Education, Sagbama, and the institution’s former accountant, Perez Lakemfa, over a staggering N285 million fraud. The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) successfully pursued charges under sections 12 and 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act 2000. The charges included Agoro knowingly acquiring direct private interest in a contract awarded to a company where he is a director.  The presiding judge, Justice D.E Adekeme, found Agoro guilty on multiple…

In the past four years, the Federal Government of Nigeria has allocated a staggering N231.27 billion towards the procurement of arms and ammunition, aiming to bolster the capabilities of the nation’s security agencies.  Despite this substantial investment, security challenges persist, prompting scrutiny and calls for strategic reassessment. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, defended the substantial budget, highlighting the nation’s reliance on foreign purchases due to the absence of a domestic military hardware manufacturing capacity.  He explained that the funds, often perceived as substantial in naira, were significantly diminished when converted into dollars, emphasizing the high costs associated…

In the past six years, Nigeria has incurred a staggering expenditure of N3.06tn on pharmaceutical imports, as revealed by a comprehensive report from the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC). This alarming trend has sparked concerns among members of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria, who warn of a potential public health crisis if urgent measures are not taken to curb the nation’s reliance on imported pharmaceuticals. According to the RMRDC report, the financial outlay for pharmaceutical imports witnessed a sharp increase over the years.  In 2016, Nigeria spent N126.1bn, followed by a marginal reduction to N118.9bn in 2017. However,…

The Federal Government says the use of Atmosfair Save80 Clean Cookstoves, a climate friendly device, will help to address challenges of climate change and reverse environmental degradation in northeast states. Director-General of National Council on Climate Change, Dr Salisu Dahiru, who disclosed this during a one-day sensitisation program in Maiduguri,Borno State, said the stoves will curtail use of firewood by 80 percent. According to him, one of the major causes of deforestation in Nigeria is the widespread use of firewood, which results in cutting of trees, hence the need to involve women to save Nigeria’s ecosystem. “Women, especially those in…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control on Thursday seized expired pharmaceutical products worth N15 million from a pharmacy in Jos, Plateau State. This is as the agency also confiscated unregistered alcoholic beverages worth more than N30 million from shops in Jos and in the nearby Bukuru metropolis of the state. The Director of the North Central Zone, NAFDAC, Mr Shaba Mohammed who disclosed this said the agency had earlier received reports that the pharmacy sold expired drugs. According to him, the pharmacy tampers with expiry date markings on pharmaceuticals to revalidate their shelf lives. Mohammed explained…

Daud Olatunji .In a shocking revelation that has sent shockwaves through the Christ High Commission Church in Araromi-Ugbesi, Ekiti State, the founder, Pastor Noah Abraham, stands accused of a grave betrayal – allegedly snatching and impregnating the wife of his trusted choirmaster. The church’s choir coordinator, Dare Ikuenayo, brought the startling allegations to light in an interview with Vanguard, recounting a tale of deceit, manipulation, and heartbreak within the confines of the sacred institution. According to Ikuenayo, the betrayal unfolded when Pastor Abraham, who leads the Christ High Commission Church, approached him with a revelation about his wife possessing the…

Daud Olatunji In a shocking turn of events, a dismissed Inspector of the Niger State Police Command, Inspector Yahaya Mohammed, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his involvement in the theft and sale of an AK-47 magazine and ammunition to suspected armed bandits within the state.  Mohammed, who previously held the position of second in command in charge of the armory at the Niger State Police Command headquarters, faced charges of criminal conspiracy and theft, as well as unlawful dealing in the sale of arms. The court heard that Mohammed conspired with Ndaman Gana, another officer in…