Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a gathering convened by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, foreign airlines operating in Nigeria disclosed that a significant portion of their $783 million in trapped funds remains unpaid, making it difficult for them to operate effectively in the country. As of August 2023, Nigeria accounted for a substantial $783 million of airlines’ blocked funds, according to data from the International Air Transport Association. Despite recent efforts to alleviate the situation, foreign airlines are still grappling with financial constraints. Mr. Chima Kingsley, Chairman of International Airline Operators, highlighted that while some funds were received…

The Federal Government of Nigeria has successfully saved a staggering N1.45 trillion from the removal of subsidies on Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, between June and September, as reported by the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC). According to FAAC allocation documents obtained from the Nigeria Governors Forum and the National Bureau of Statistics, a breakdown of the figures revealed monthly remittances to the Non-Oil Revenue (Savings) account of the government.  In June, the account received N696.93 billion, followed by N389.7 billion in July, N71 billion in August, and N289 billion in September. This substantial financial accomplishment came…

The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has issued a warning, urging Nigerians to disregard ongoing social media messages promising free registration of business names and companies. The commission issued the warning in a statement on X (formerly Twiter) on Tuesday, adding that such could not have emanated from them. “Please, disregard any SMS or WhatsApp message asking you to enrol for free CAC registration, as it is not from us! Thank you,” CAC posted. The Registrar General/CEO of the commission, Hussaini Ishaq Magaji (SAN), vowed to remove encumbrances to staff performance when he visited the Lagos office of the CAC in…

In a concerning revelation, the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) has disclosed that due to the refusal of state Governors to sign death warrants, approximately 5,000 inmates who are supposed to face the death penalty by hanging are still occupying space in correctional facilities.  This revelation was made by the Controller-General of the Correctional Service, Haliru Nababa, during a recent event organized by the Public and Private Development Centre (PPDC) focused on access to justice and the launch of two critical projects: “Court Administration and Case Management” and “Reforming Pre-trial Detention in Nigeria Phase II.” The controller-general expressed his deep concern…

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has said that the South-West governors have implemented  a significant development for the Oodua Investment Company Ltd. Abiodun said the development was  a non-interference policy implemented  to revamp the conglomerate and eliminate political interference and mediocrity in its operations.  Abiodun made this announcement during a meeting with the board and management of Oodua Investment, headed by Group Chairman Otunba Bimbo Ashiru.  He expressed his satisfaction with the recent accomplishments of the company, applauding the new management team’s creativity, direction, and commitment. Abiodun emphasized the need for a professional and purpose-driven approach in managing the…

Aminat Gusanu On Tuesday, members of the Fish and Seafood Sellers Association of Nigeria in Abeokuta gathered outside the Governor’s office, holding placards and voicing their concerns through anti-government songs.  They were expressing their frustration with the continuous rise in fish prices. Owolabi Onajobi, the state chairman of the Association, lamented the relentless surge in fish prices, which has forced many of their members out of business. He stressed that the escalating prices were negatively impacting their livelihoods, and customers were holding them responsible for the arbitrary hikes. Onajobi appealed to the government to address the economic hardship caused by…

A tragic incident unfolded in the quiet town of Obantoko, located in the heart of Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State.  On Tuesday, a middle-aged electrician met a grim end as he was electrocuted while attempting to rectify an electrical fault for a neighbour.  The victim, identified as Elijah Adenekan, hailed from the Unity Estate in the Aregbe area of Obantoko, Odeda local government area. The unfortunate sequence of events transpired when Mr. Adenekan decided to address a nagging electrical problem by enlisting the help of a skilled electrician.  As the electrician diligently worked on the task, an unexpected…

The Nigerian Senate has called for stringent actions against Customs officers who misuse firearms at the nation’s borders and advocated for a reduction in the number of checkpoints at border communities to facilitate the unhindered flow of goods.  This decision was reached during a Senate plenary session and marks the latest development in an ongoing effort to address the alleged misuse of firearms by Customs personnel. The Senate’s decision comes four months after an ad hoc committee was established to investigate and make recommendations regarding the reported misuse of firearms by Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) officers.  Presenting the committee’s report…

Daud Olatunji In a remarkable culinary feat, Nigerian chef Hilda Effiong Bassey, popularly known as Hilda Baci, has officially been dethroned from her title as the Guinness World Record holder for the longest cooking marathon.  This momentous announcement was made by the Guinness World Records (GWR) on Tuesday, as it introduced Alan Fisher from Ireland as the new record-holder, taking the culinary world by storm. Alan Fisher, who is both an owner and chef of a restaurant in Japan, has accomplished a remarkable double win.  The GWR stated, “Alan Fisher (Ireland), an owner and chef of a restaurant in Japan,…

Daud Olatunji In a surprising turn of events, two siblings, Abraham Adeola (18) and Segun Adeola (25), found themselves in front of the Ekiti State Magistrates’ Court, Ado Ekiti District, after being accused of stealing chicken valued at N45,000.  The Ekiti State Police Command arraigned the brothers for their alleged involvement in the poultry pilfering incident that unfolded in the Oke Bola area of Ado Ekiti on November 4. The case, brought before the court by the police prosecutor, Celeb Leramo, details that the defendants are charged with conspiring to commit felony, namely, stealing.  Leramo stated that the brothers committed…