Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a tragic turn of events, the Enugu State Fire Service mourns the loss of Mr. Chigozie Ugwu, a dedicated mechanical engineer and senior fire officer, who succumbed to the aftermath of battling a midnight fire at the Enugu State Motor Spare Parts Market.  Ugwu led his team tirelessly as they fought to extinguish the flames that ravaged less than 10 shops, resulting in the destruction of goods worth millions of naira. Director of Enugu State Fire Service, Okwudili Ohaa, confirmed Ugwu’s passing, expressing grief over the loss of a committed worker who had 15 firemen reporting to him.  Ohaa…

At least 163 lives were tragically cut short, and the tranquility of Lagos was disrupted as 189 cases of robbery unfolded in the past year, according to recent police records.  The Acting Commissioner of Police, DCP Waheed Ayilara, revealed these alarming statistics during the 17th Town Hall Meeting on security organized by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). In a detailed report, Ayilara highlighted that within the specified timeframe, 189 residential robberies were reported, with security operatives successfully thwarting 172 of them and apprehending 257 robbery suspects.  The crime situation in Lagos further revealed the recovery of 103 firearms,…

Itori Magistrate Court in Ogun witnessed a legal showdown as six Maximum Demand (MD1) customers of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) were arraigned on Wednesday for engaging in illegal connections.  The defendants faced a one-count charge for reconnecting to the IBEDC network without resolving their outstanding debts and disconnection issues. The MD1 customers, initially disconnected by the company due to substantial arrears and non-payment, took matters into their own hands by illicitly restoring their connection without resolving the underlying disputes.  IBEDC’s Monitoring Team unearthed this unauthorized reconnection, promptly reporting it to the local police station, leading to the immediate…

Aminat Gusanu A 200-level student of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ibadan has been arrested by the institution’s security personnel for allegedly raping a 100-level colleague. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the victim had gone for a night reading alongside other girls to prepare for exams. The victim was said to have moved away from the lecture theatre where she was reading due to power failure and went to take a nap at the Students’ Union building, where the suspect reportedly raped her. While narrating her ordeal, the victim said she woke up at a touch and attempted…

Daud Olatunji In a bid to combat the growing menace of drug abuse, the Ogun State Government has pledged its full support to the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) through a strategic partnership with Community Development Associations (CDAs).  A statement issued a  Press Officer for the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, Lawal Taoheed, said the  commitment was affirmed by the Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, Alhaji Balogun Ademola, during a meeting with NDLEA officials at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. He siad that Commissioner Balogun emphasized the importance of engaging CDAs, cooperatives, traders, and artisans’ associations in…

Daud Olatunji In a shocking paternity mess, an 81-year-old Ekiti cleric, Bishop Daramola James, is embroiled in a controversial case with Omobunmi, a woman who claims he fathered her nine-year-old child, Olayemi Testimony Oreoluwa. The woman alleges that the Bishop raped her for 14 years, resulting in four abortions. Omobunmi, who was only 15  years old when the alleged encounters began, recently took her accusations public, appearing on a radio programme hosted by Omo Edema. During the broadcast, Bishop Daramola confessed to having had a sexual relationship with Omobunmi, revealing that she is his niece. He expressed regret over his…

Daud Olatunji In a joyous celebration marking his 50th birthday, Reverend Tolulope Taiwo, widely known as Pastor T, shared a gripping tale of survival and divine intervention during a five-hour praise program held at his church in Abeokuta. Pastor T, reflecting on his journey, revealed that the year 2017 held a life-altering moment when he narrowly escaped death. Struggling with goiter for an extended period, he faced a critical juncture where a medical doctor’s timely intervention became a beacon of hope. “In 2017, I would have died. I have had goiter for many years. The same year, before I went…

In a collaborative effort, a combined team of soldiers, seamen, police personnel, and local vigilantes conducted a targeted raid on the alleged camps of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN) in the Orsumoghu general area of Anambra State. The operation, carried out by troops of Exercise Golden Dawn III along with personnel from the Nigerian Navy, police operatives, and vigilant locals, took place on Monday. Acting on credible intelligence, the security forces successfully cleared and destroyed the reported IPOB/ESN camps, dealing a blow to the separatist groups. In a statement released on…

 In a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday, the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) raised serious concerns about the future of polytechnic education in Nigeria, highlighting an existential threat stemming from government policies that devalue and deter youth enrollment. ASUP President, Mr. Anderson Ezeibe, expressed distress over the alleged appointment of individuals lacking the necessary qualifications as rectors in federal polytechnics, asserting that this trend contributes to a decline in student interest. The disparity between Higher National Diplomas (HND) offered by polytechnics and Bachelor Degrees from universities has led to a decline in enrollment, with many young people…

In a passionate plea before the Joint National Assembly Committee on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Minister Betta Edu expressed concerns over the adequacy of the 2024 budget  allocation for her ministry. He  emphasized  that the allocated N532.5 billion is insufficient to effectively address the pressing issue of poverty in the nation. During the session chaired by Senator Idiat Adebule, Minister Edu highlighted that while the  overhead ceiling witnessed a 28 per cent increase from the previous year, this rise did not adequately match the current inflation rate of 27.33 per cent in the economy.  She argued that, given the…