Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a bid to promote community health and well-being, the non-governmental organization (NGO) Glam Golden Divas Club recently kicked off its 2023 medical outreach in Lagos, advocating for increased attention to health among Nigerians.  The club’s president, Mrs Zino Akinrefon, emphasized the importance of good health as a cornerstone of wealth during the launch, which also included a visit to an orphanage. Focusing on grassroots communities, particularly the less privileged, the club conducted a screening and treatment session for over 100 market men and women in Idimu market, Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.  The initiative aimed…

Femi Onasanya Some years ago during my post graduate studies in the premier University of Ibadan, Department of Communication and Language Arts, I heard a story which remains with me till date about how to distinguish between growth and development. The class was Development Communication to be precise. There was this very remote village in a State which the lecturer didn’t mention where the people suddenly discovered that the government was planning to build a school for their children. The villagers prostested against government’s move just as they insisted that all they needed was a motor park, not a school.…

Daud Olatunji In a groundbreaking announcement, president of the ongo­ing 28th meeting of the United Nations Conference of the Par­ties (COP28), President Sultan Al-Jaber reveals a historic commitment from 117 countries to triple the world’s renewable energy capacity by 2030.  The non-binding agreement aims to collectively double the global energy efficiency rate, urging urgent collaboration to shift away from unabated coal. President Al-Jaber emphasizes the critical need to fix current energy practices, mitigate emissions on a gigaton scale, and rapidly transition to zero-carbon alternatives.  He said this while speaking at the World Climate Action Summit at the ongoing COP28 in…

In a startling revelation, Mr. James Lalu, the Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons With Disabilities (NCPWD), disclosed that a staggering 35.1 million Nigerians are currently living with disabilities.  This revelation was made during a one-day program held in the southeast region, focused on issuing permanent certificates to persons with disabilities. Represented by Mr. Ikem Uchegbulam, the acting Director of Compliance and Enforcement at the commission, Lalu based the figure on a report from the World Health Organization (WHO).  The programme aimed at sensitizing individuals with disabilities emphasized the importance of certification, aligning with Section 28 of…

Daud Olatunji The Ogun State government has closed down three companies—Ruili Recycling Limited in Mowe, Robust International PTE Limited also in Mowe, and Star Pipe Limited in Sagamu,citing various environmental infractions. Commissioner for Environment, Ola Oresanya, revealed that Ruili Recycling, a pet bottle recycling company, was found guilty of discharging waste and stormwater into their immediate environment, notably affecting Christopher University premises.  The company failed to obtain drainage approval, leading to the exposure of students to potential dangers.  Additionally, the company was burning solid wastes on-site, violating state environmental laws and posing risks to workers and nearby residents. Regarding Robust…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) has issued a weather forecast indicating a three-day weather pattern across the nation. NiMet’s Weather Outlook, disclosed in Abuja on Saturday, projects dust hazes over the northern region from Sunday extending through Tuesday. While the North Central region is expected to experience sunny skies with a hazy atmosphere during this period, the inland states of the South and the coastal belt are predicted to have cloudy skies with intervals of sunshine in the morning. Later in the afternoon and evening, localized thunderstorms are anticipated over specific areas in Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Cross River, and Akwa…

Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, asserts that Nigeria, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, is witnessing a troubling surge in modern-day slavery.  Citing the Walk Free Organisation’s 2023 Global Slavery Index, Obi highlights Nigeria’s grim ranking as fifth in Africa and 38th globally among 160 countries in terms of the prevalence of modern slavery. Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, emphasizes the urgent need to address the alarming situation, noting that the recent spike in insecurity and poverty has exacerbated the number of individuals subjected to modern slavery, including forced child labor and sexual exploitation.  The…

 The Federal High Court in Lagos has directed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to present before the court, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Abdulraheem, a renowned Nigerian businessman and Managing Director of Kaother Abdussalam Hasan Establishment Limited, allegedly held unlawfully by the agency.  The court order, issued by Justice Daniel Osiagor, follows a compelling motion presented by Abdulraheem’s counsel, Mr Adebayo Onifade, citing constitutional provisions and human rights protocols. Onifade emphasized the motion’s foundation in Section 46 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as well as Order II Rules 1, 2, and 3 of the Fundamental Rights…

Passengers at Maiduguri International Airport, Borno State, find themselves stranded as a Max Air aircraft, plagued by recurring technical faults, remains grounded on its Abuja-Maiduguri route.  Concerns escalate as passengers question the airworthiness of the troubled aircraft and urgently call on aviation authorities to intervene before a potential national catastrophe unfolds. This comes after the same aircraft reportedly experienced a fault on Friday, yet still operated a flight to Abuja at 2 pm.  The situation repeats itself, leaving passengers stranded and raising serious safety apprehensions.  Witnesses revealed the grounded aircraft with stranded passengers at Maiduguri Airport, drawing parallels to the…

In a devastating incident that unfolded on Friday, three revered traditional rulers from Oriire Local Government Area of Oyo State lost their lives in a tragic auto crash.  The fatal collision occurred at Aje Iye and involved a Benz E230 with the plate OLODOGBO and a commercial Scania Truck with registration number 301 XF. Eyewitnesses recounted the grim scene, revealing that two monarchs succumbed instantly, while a third passed away hours later at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, where desperate attempts were made to save him. The affected monarchs, namely the Olodogbo of Odogbo, Onibowula of Bowula, and Alayetoro…