Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji & AFP The death toll at the annual rituals, which were carried out in scorching heat, has  surged past 900 during this year Muslim pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, AFP reports . Friends and family  were said to have begun searching  for missing hajj pilgrims . Relatives scoured hospitals and pleaded online for news, fearing the worst after temperatures hit 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit) in Mecca, Islam’s holiest city, on Monday. About 1.8 million people from all over the world, many old and infirm, took part in the days-long, mostly outdoor pilgrimage, which this year fell…

Minister of State for Environment, Dr. Iziaq Salako, has highlighted the severe impact of drought on the nation’s population, revealing that about 40 million Nigerians have been driven into poverty due to the ongoing environmental crisis.  Speaking at the celebration of World Environment Day, organized by the United Nations in Nigeria in collaboration with Greenhub Africa Foundation and the Renewable Energy Efficiency Association, Dr. Salako emphasized the dire consequences of drought, particularly around the Lake Chad region. Represented by Alhaji Abdullahi Usman, a senior official in the ministry, the minister underscored the various actions taken by the Nigerian government to…

Daud Olatunji Chairman and Chief Executive of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA),Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd),  has alerted the nation to a looming crisis.  Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, Marwa warned that drug use in Nigeria and other African countries is projected to increase by 40% by 2030, driven largely by the growing population of young people. Describing the situation as a “national emergency,” Marwa emphasized the urgent need for Nigeria to invest heavily in preventive measures to address the anticipated challenges.  The press conference marked the beginning of a week-long series of events to…

A Nigerian pilgrim from Jigawa State attending the recently concluded 2024 Hajj returned a lost purse containing  $800, approximately N1,185,000, along with 690 Saudi Riyal and some Russian currency to the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).  The incident occurred on Wednesday night at the Masjid Nabawi (Prophet’s Mosque) in Madina. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the pilgrim, Abba Saadu Limawa, hails from Limawa village in the Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa State.  It was further  gathered that, Limawa discovered the purse, which contained a  substantial amount of money, he chose to report and return the lost purse, an act…

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF), Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, said the recent physical verification exercise by her office, exposed workers living abroad but still earning salaries from the service. Yemi-Esan revealed this during a chat with media executives on Wednesday in Abuja, being part of activities to mark 2024 Civil Service Week. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the theme for the 2024 celebration is ‘Educate an African Fit for the 21st Century: Building Resilient  Education Systems for Increased Access to Inclusive, Lifelong, Quality and Relevant Learning in Africa’. The HoCSF said many of the civil…

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…