Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a significant breakthrough, the FCT Command’s Utako Police Division apprehended a three-member ‘One Chance’ robbery gang in Abuja, comprising a husband, wife, and another individual. The suspects identified as Chukwudi Okorie (51), his wife Chibuzor Okorie (43), and Esther Gabriel (38) were residents of Akaraka Gwagwa.  Their arrest follows a series of robberies, particularly ‘One Chance’ activities conducted within the FCT and its surroundings. ‘One Chance’ is a term used to describe a robbery style where perpetrators pose as drivers and passengers, deceiving innocent commuters before robbing them of valuables. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Command,…

With just twenty-one days remaining until the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) deadline for mandatory Bank Verification Number (BVN) registration, the Nigerian Interbank Settlement System (NIBSS) has reported a significant surge, indicating that over 60.2 million Nigerians have now enrolled in the BVN system. This marks a notable increase of over 2.6 percent from the 58.7 million BVN registrations reported as of September 12, 2023, just before the CBN’s directive. As a recap, on December 1, 2023, the CBN issued a directive to various financial institutions, including commercial, merchant, non-interest, payment service banks, and mobile money operators, through a circular. …

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has amassed a total of N175 million through the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to five aspirants vying for the coveted position in the upcoming Edo State governorship election. As the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) sets September 21, 2024, as the date for the state governorship election, the PDP outlined a schedule of activities culminating in the governorship candidate’s emergence during a congress on February 22, 2024. Commencing the process, the PDP, on Wednesday in Abuja, initiated the sale of nomination and expression of interest forms to party members aspiring to…

In a significant development, President Bola Tinubu is currently engaged in a private meeting with Governor Simi Fubara of Rivers State at the Presidential Villa.  Governor Fubara discreetly arrived at the Presidential Villa at approximately 5:35 p.m., making his way directly to the president’s office. In a departure from his previous visit, where he was accompanied by a delegation of loyalists during a peace meeting involving his estranged political godfather, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Nyesom Wike, and the President, Governor Fubara attended today’s meeting alone. While the specific agenda of the meeting remains undisclosed as of the…

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) has directed Muslim Ummah to watch for the new Moon of Rajab 1445 AH starting on Friday. Prof. Sambo Janaidu, the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Sultanate Council Sokoto, made the announcement in a statement on Thursday. The statement reads, “This is to inform the Muslim Ummah that Friday, Jan. 12, equivalent to the 29th day of Jumada-Assani 1445 AH, shall be the day to search for the new moon of Rajab 1445 AH. “Muslims are requested to…

Rasak Musbau The passage on Tuesday, 9th January 2024 of Baba Adinni of Lagos – (His Eminence, Sheikh Abdul Hafeez Ashamu Abou, OFR) at the respectable age of 101, was not just the departure of an individual from the earth. To many, it was like a part of the sky above the city of Lagos had collapsed.  The size and diversity of mourners who besieged the Lagos Central Mosque located at the busy Nnamdi Azikiwe Street where his Janazah (funeral prayer) was observed yesterday (10th of January 2024) from where thousands trekked to Abari cemetery at Tapa Street to catch…

In a strategic move towards academic excellence, the D. S Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, situated in Itori-Ewekoro, Ogun State, is set to kick off its Computer-Based Tests (CBT) for the 2023/2024 academic session across all departments on Thursday, January 11, 2024. According to a press release from the institution’s management, all participating departments are diligently collaborating with the Polytechnic’s ICT Centre to ensure the smooth and successful conduct of the CBTs. The statement highlighted the institution’s commitment to timeliness and promptness, emphasising its reputation for never wasting students’ time. Yinka Adegbite, the institution’s Public Relations Head, stated, “We have an enviable…

In the upcoming fiscal year, the Nigerian government plans to allocate a substantial N450 billion for power interventions, as revealed in the budget analysis conducted by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company.  This significant investment is earmarked under the firm’s capital expenditure as the ‘FGN Power Intervention Fund.’ The Government Owned Enterprise anticipates a total expenditure of N454.81 billion in 2024.  The breakdown includes N2.44bn for personnel costs, N2.36 billion for other recurrent costs, N580m for general travel and transport, N15m for utilities, N110m for materials and supplies, N210.75m for general maintenance services, N34m  for other services, N60m for fuel…

Hundreds of Nigerian ex-servicemen who defended the nation during the 1966 Civil War  have staged a protest in Ibadan, Oyo State, over 44 years of unpaid pensions. Armed with placards bearing poignant messages, the retirees expressed frustration at being neglected despite their sacrifices, questioning why they were left in anguish while those they fought against had been compensated.  National Coordinator Cpl. Babawande Phillip (retd) highlighted the painful disparity, noting that Biafran soldiers had received payments while they, with bullet wounds from defending the country, were left without pensions. Phillip lamented, “For the past 44 years, we have been deprived of…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) to enhance the skills of twenty million craftsmen over the next five years to bolster the nation’s economy. Addressing the initiative at ITF’s headquarters in Abuja, the Director General, Afiz Oluwatoyin, highlighted the objective to ensure local craftsmen can competitively match their international counterparts. Oluwatoyin emphasized the administration’s commitment to counter the trend of foreign artisans occupying positions meant for domestic craftsmen, stating, “Nigerian artisans have operated at a disadvantage, but we aim to change that. We want standard artisans who can excel globally.” Acknowledging the challenges faced by…