Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State is gearing up for a legal battle as it seeks to appeal the recent Federal High Court judgment disqualifying its gubernatorial candidate, Timipre Sylva.  The court ruled that Sylva’s candidacy would violate the 1999 constitution due to his previous terms as governor. In response, the APC, through its Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council, Perry Tukuwei, issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting that the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in breach of the Electoral Act. The party expressed confidence that the Court…

Fawaz Adebisi  Ogun State is set to host a two-day Employment Conference in collaboration with the German Government through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). This was announced by the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola on Tuesday. According to him, the two-day event, scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, and Thursday, October 12, 2023, aims to address critical employment and job creation issues within the state. He disclosed that the conference would be held at the prestigious Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, commencing…

Fawaz Adebisi The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially unveiled the results of the 2023 Internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), revealing that an impressive 61.60 percent of candidates achieved five credits and above, including English and Mathematics. However, amid this achievement, NECO also exposed a troubling issue, revealing that a total of 93 schools have been implicated in mass cheating during the exams. Also, it was disclosed that 52 supervisors have been recommended for blacklisting due to their role in poor supervision, aiding, and abetting during the examinations. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO, Professor Dantani…

Daud Olatunji   The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially allocated 1,191 hajj seats to Ogun State in preparation for the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.  This significant announcement was made by Alhaji Salau Babatunde, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, during a press conference held in Abeokuta. The allocation of these hajj slots will be conducted on a “first come, first served” basis, ensuring fairness and transparency in the selection process. Alhaji Salau Babatunde also revealed that NAHCON has determined an initial hajj deposit of four million five hundred thousand naira (₦4,500,000.00) for prospective pilgrims,…

Daud Olatunji In a significant trend that underscores Nigeria’s pursuit of higher education, Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has revealed that close to 100,000 Nigerian students embarked on academic journeys to the United Kingdom between 2017 and 2022. Speaking at the inauguration of the 2023 University of Lagos International Week, the minister highlighted the eagerness of Nigerian scholars to expand their horizons globally. Tunji-Ojo noted that over 100 Nigerian students received scholarships for postgraduate and PhD degrees each year, emphasizing the commitment to supporting their academic aspirations. He acknowledged the profound impact these students have by representing Nigeria abroad, fostering…

Daud Olatunji In response to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s declaration of a national state of emergency on food security, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security is gearing up for an ambitious push into dry season farming, set to kick off in November 2023. Senator Abubakar Kyari, the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, made the announcement during a recent press conference in Abuja.  The minister highlighted the renewed hope agenda of President Tinubu and assured the public that as the harvest season begins, food prices will start to decline. As part of the preparations for dry-season farming, Senator…

Daud Olatunji Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has taken action to address the concerns of labor unions in the state following the removal of fuel subsidy.  He inaugurated an 11-member committee, led by Prof Olanike Adeyemo, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), to review workers’ salaries and other labor-related demands. The committee, named the “Adhoc Inter-ministerial Committee on the harmonization of the various demands by the Labour unions in Oyo State,” includes key figures such as the Head of Service, Commissioners, and labor union representatives. The committee has been given a four-week mandate to submit its report and…

Former Nigerian Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, has vehemently denied the widespread rumor of his demise, asserting that he is in no rush to meet his maker.  The 88-year-old Gowon was reported to be in London at the time when the unfounded rumor began to circulate rapidly throughout Nigeria. This refutation came through a brief message conveyed to the media by his personal aide, Adeyeye Ajayi. In the statement, Ajayi quoted Gowon as saying, “I am still around and well. I am not in a hurry.” The rumor of General Gowon’s passing sparked a frenzy on social media platforms,…

First City Monument Bank (FCMB) has unveiled a comprehensive suite of financial solutions designed to empower Nigerians in their pursuit of wealth and financial well-being.  These exclusive offerings span the entire spectrum of wealth creation, from accumulation to preservation, covering target and premium savings, wealth and investment management, pensions, and estate planning (Wills and Trusts).  Additionally, FCMB provides a range of value-added services, including education, travel, advisory services, and diaspora account management. The target and premium savings plans cater to upwardly mobile professionals and entrepreneurs, providing a solid foundation for financial growth.  Meanwhile, wealth and investment management services are tailored…

In a significant stride towards improving Nigeria’s electricity supply, the Federal Government, in partnership with the Association of Power Generation Companies (APGC), has successfully increased the power capacity of the national grid from 13,000 megawatts to an impressive 14,000 megawatts.  This remarkable achievement was announced by Dr. Joy Ogaji, the Executive Secretary of APGC, during the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria’s 2023 annual international strategic conference. The cornerstone of this power capacity expansion was the commissioning of the state-of-the-art $1.3 billion Zungeru hydroelectric plant, located in Niger state, in the second quarter of the year.  Dr. Ogaji highlighted the…