Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a groundbreaking move, the Odua Investment Foundation, the social arm of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, has taken a significant step to revolutionize education in Nigeria by formally launching its Digital Education for Innovation and Economic Development project.  The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday in Lagos, marks a momentous stride in the realm of digital education in the Southwest region of Nigeria. Under the umbrella of the “DEFINED” portfolio, the foundation has introduced the “Byte Busters Coding Clubs,” a specialized program designed for secondary school students.  These clubs are set to operate across all 137 local government areas in…

Daud Olatunji In the wake of a significant judgment by the Supreme Court related to the 2023 general elections, the Nigerian Exchange Limited experienced a staggering loss of N67 billion in market capitalization.  This downturn marked the second consecutive day of negative trading on the local bourse. The primary factors contributing to this substantial market dip were the depreciation in share values of several prominent companies, including MTN Nigeria (-0.40%), Flour Mills (-3.23%), Stanbic IBTC (3.21%), Computer Warehouse Group (-9.94%), Fidelity Bank (-1.82%), and 24 others. The Supreme Court ruling confirmed the decision of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal, which…

Israel Adeleke A 44-year-old herdsman, Nurudeen Disu, appeared before an Ogudu Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, charged with allegedly stealing 33 cows valued at N20 million from his employer. The defendant, residing in Anthony Village, Lagos State, pleaded not guilty to a one-count charge of theft. The prosecutor, Inspector Bassey Sunday, addressing the court, stated that the defendant committed the offense between 2019 and 2023 behind the Newcastle Hotel in Anthony Village. He alleged that the defendant conspired with others in the theft. Inspector Sunday further explained that the 33 cows stolen by the defendant belonged to the complainant, Mr. Bashura…

Daud Olatunji In a shocking case of alleged police misconduct, Iyanda Olarenwaju, a civil servant with the Federal Medical Centre in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has accused the Kwara State Police of fraudulently detaining him and his family without any concrete evidence of wrongdoing. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the ordeal began on August 29, 2023, when Olarenwaju was apprehended by three police officers from the Adatan Police Station at Adatan roundabout in Abeokuta.  He was later  handed over to Kwara command officers who claimed to be investigating a case of fraud involving his Bank Verification Number (BVN).  He said that the…

Daud Olatunji In a significant crackdown on drug-related crimes, the Edo State chapter of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has reported the successful apprehension of 252 suspected drug dealers and traffickers over the span of nine months.  The Edo State Commander of NDLEA, Mr. Buba Wakawa, disclosed this information through Assistant Commander Narcotic Ondoimi Bebetu, who heads the Media and Advocacy division in Benin. These arrests occurred between January and September of the current year. Notably, individuals apprehended for suspected drug use were offered counseling and subsequently reunited with their families, a practice permitted by the law. To…

Daud Olatunji  In a bid to ensure a better livelihood for the people of Ogun State, Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has reaffirmed his commitment to deploying developmental policies and programs that will stimulate the state’s economy.  The Governor’s assurance was delivered by his Deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, during the Remo Division Town Hall meeting held in preparation for the 2024–2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and the 2024 Appropriation Bill. These developmental policies, according to Governor Abiodun, are designed to bolster investments in vital socio-economic sectors, enhance infrastructure development, and ensure sustainable debt management.  Furthermore, they aim to deepen structural reforms…

Daud Olatunji In a recent press release, the Nigeria Police Force has officially recognized three virtual policing platforms, warning citizens against engaging with unauthorized and fraudulent alternatives.  The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi stated this in a statement issued on Thursday. Adejobi said the  move  was aimed at  ensuring  the safety and security of the public in the digital realm. He said the approved virtual policing applications and websites including the NPF Rescue Me Application, were available on Android and iOS, designed for emergency situations.  He added that the  NPF Central Motor Registry website has also been sanctioned,…

Peculiar Tonkumoh In a significant move to recover outstanding tax liabilities, the Governor of Akwa Ibom, Umo Eno, ordered the closure of three banks within the state, owing a collective sum of N228.6 million to the government.  This decision was made following the failure of the banks to remit their tax obligations to the state government. The affected financial institutions include two branches of Keystone Bank, situated at Abak Road and Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo, and Heritage Bank, located on Aka Road in Uyo. The enforcement action was executed by the Board’s Enforcement and Recovery Department, prompted by a…

By Israel Adeleke Dr. Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former minister of education and solid minerals, expressed her view on Thursday about the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold President Bola Tinubu’s victory in the 2023 presidential election, describing it as a ‘judicial sanctioning of wrongdoing.’ Ezekwesili, who also served as the former Vice President for the Africa division at the World Bank, shared her perspective on her X handle (formerly Twitter) shortly after the apex court’s ruling. She wrote: “Now we all understand the true nature of a Criminal Enterprise Gang. Some might wonder, “Where is the hope now?” because what other…

Israel Adeleke The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed that Nigerians paid more for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) in September 2023. The organization, which released the data on its website, provided the Executive Summary for Liquefied Petroleum Gas (Cooking Gas) Price Watch for September 2023. The report indicates that the average retail price for refilling a 5kg and a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 1.81% and 0.58%, respectively, on a month-on-month basis. According to the report, on a month-on-month basis, the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of cooking gas rose from N4,115.32 in…