Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji Lagos and Ogun States have emerged as the leading states  for internet usage in Nigeria, as the South West takes the forefront among other regions, according to the latest telecommunications data for Q1 2024. PLATFORM TIMES obtained the data from the National Bureau of Statistics which states that the  total number of active internet subscribers in Nigeria reached 164,368,292 in Q1 2024. This is  an increase from the 157,551,104 recorded in Q1 2023, marking a growth rate of 4.33%.  The NBS sated that on a quarter-on-quarter basis, the number of active internet subscribers grew by 0.32%. According…

The Special Intelligence Squad of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has apprehended three women in connection with pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and illegal petroleum dealings in Rivers State.  PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  arrests took place in Umuodo, Umuajuloke Community, Omuma Local Government Area, following an intelligence-led operation. Speaking  On Sunday, the SIS Commander, Deputy Commandant Apollo Dandaura, revealed that the operation was successful due to sustained intelligence efforts.  He said the  crime scene was identified as an illegal oil refinery where large quantities of illegally refined petroleum products, suspected to be Automotive Gas Oil (AGO), were…

A late-night fire on Saturday razed 10 shops and destroyed goods worth millions of naira at the Oba Lipede Market in Kuto, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. The blaze, which began around 10:15 pm, was reportedly triggered by a gas-powered generator explosion owned by a market businessman.  Ogun State Fire Service Director Fatai Adefala confirmed the incident, stating that firefighters were alerted immediately and rushed to the scene. “There was a fire incident at the market on Saturday night. We were contacted at about 22:15 and we quickly raced down to bring the situation under control.  “Ten shops were affected…

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has attributed his decision not to own houses abroad to his commitment to industrialising Nigeria. Speaking at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Dangote emphasised that properties in London or the United States would detract from his mission to transform Nigeria into an industrial hub. “The reason I don’t have a London or American house is solely because I wanted to focus on industrialisation in Nigeria,” Dangote stated.  “I figured that if I had those houses, there would be one reason or the other for me to visit those places, thereby causing distraction for…

The Indigenous People of Biafra has cautioned South-East governors against allocating lands for grazing reserves to MACBAN, warning it could ignite unrest in the region. IPOB spokesman Emma Powerful emphasised the need for governors to prioritise the safety of the people. The statement reads: “The Noble family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) led by Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu wish to caution the Eastern Governors to shun the recent demand from Miyetti Allah for the governors to allocate grazing reserves in their respective states to them. No governor should mortgage safety and security by allocating land for…

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , Dr Olisa Agbakoba, has faulted the agitation for state creation in the South-East by some House of Representatives members, describing the proposal as a misplaced priority. Agbakoba, a former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), expressed the view in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  on Sunday in Lagos. NAN reports that the House of Representatives recently passed for second reading, a bill seeking the creation of Etiti State out of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states from the South-East geopolitical zone. The bill  was sponsored by Rep  Godwin…

An official of the Kaduna State Pilgrims Welfare Agency, Yaú Inuwa, has returned two phones worth N4 million to the owner, Muhajiadina Kano, in Jeddah. The agency’s public relations officer, Yunusa Abdullahi, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Kaduna. Mr Abdullahi said, “Malam Inuwa has done the state proud when he handed over two missing mobile phones worth N4 million to the owner at the King Abdul Azeez International Airport in Jeddah during the return flight to Nigeria. Mr Kano was quoted as expressing gratitude to Mr Inuwa for returning the phones to him. He said he forgot…

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Pelican Valley Nigeria Limited, Ambassador (Dr) Babatunde Adeyemo, has saluted Aremo Olusegun Osoba ahead of his 85th birthday celebration tomorrow, Monday, July 15. Ambassador Adeyemo, a top-notch Nigerian real estate entrepreneur and veteran broadcast journalist hailed Osoba at 85, describing him as a journalism role model, politician and revered elder statesman who has continued to use his immeasurable wealth of experience to provide “an iconic, commendable,enduring leadership and mentorship roles in journalism, politics, tradition and other endeavours across generations and the globe.” The multiple awards winning real estate practitioner behind Pelican…

Daud Olatunji In a significant financial update, data from StatisSense has revealed that the 137 local government areas across the six South-Western states of Nigeria collectively received a substantial sum of N659.51 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) over the past year. According to the data, the period under review spans from June 2023 to May 2024.  PLATFORM TIMES obtained this information from the StatisSense website on Saturday. Breaking down the allocations, Lagos State’s 20 local government areas received the largest portion, securing a total of N258.26 billion out of the N659.51 billion distributed.  Following Lagos, Oyo State’s…

By Luqman Soliu, The landmark judgment on local government autonomy made on July 11, 2024 by the Supreme Court of Nigeria affirming its original jurisdiction as contained in Section 232 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended) is a good score against dictators and usurpers of power who have caged and retarded the local government councils in Nigeria for decades.  The executive at the Federal Government (FG) level having noticed State Governors’ overbearing and exploitative actions on the local government (LG) in Nigeria, took the bull by the horn in May 2024 and challenged the…