Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a concerning revelation, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) in Taraba State has raised the alarm about a severe shortage of doctors in the region.  The NMA is now imploring the state government to take swift action to address this critical issue in order to enhance healthcare delivery for the people. This urgent appeal was made during a press briefing marking this year’s physician’s week by the NMA’s chairman, Bako Ali.  Ali disclosed that there are currently only 201 doctors, both active and retired, available to serve a population of over three million in Taraba State.  This shocking…

In a decisive ruling on Saturday, the Adamawa State Governorship Election Tribunal confirmed the re-election of Umaru Fintiri as the Governor of the state following the contentious March 2023 governorship election.  The three-member panel, led by Justice Theodora Uloho, dismissed the claims of the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Aisha ‘Binani’ Dahiru, citing a lack of merit in her demands. The Tribunal’s judgment affirmed that Fintiri had met all the necessary requirements of electoral law to be re-elected, while the petitioners failed to substantiate their case. The 2023 Adamawa governorship election had extended into a supplementary poll, marked by…

Daud Olatunji The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has revealed that the ongoing quick-fix project at the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemicals Company Limited is on track to be fully operational by December 2024.  This promising update was conveyed in an official statement posted on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s platform over the weekend. During an inspection tour of the Kaduna Refinery & Petrochemicals, where he assessed the progress of the ongoing quick-fix project, Lokpobiri expressed his confidence in the refinery’s timely restoration by the end of 2024.  He emphasized the remarkable progress observed during his…

Daud Olatunji In a somber moment of reflection, the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) community, along with the greater Yoruba nation, mourns the loss of a remarkable council member and esteemed educationist, Iyalode Alaba Oluwaseun Lawson.  She passed away at the age of 72 on the morning of October 28, 2023.  Lawson, a revered figure in the world of education and the Iyalode of Yorubaland, was a serving member of the TASUED Governing Council.  The University Registrar and Secretary to Council, Dapo Oke in a statement on Saturday said Lawson’s  contributions to both the university and the broader educational…

Daud Olatunji The Lamidi Apapa-led  Labour Party has expressed its jubilation over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s recent Supreme Court victory, affirming his legitimacy as Nigeria’s leader.  The party extended its hearty congratulations to Tinubu, lauding his  triumph as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Supreme Court’s decision effectively put to rest any lingering controversies stemming from the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections.  The Labour Party spokesperson, Abayomi Arabambi in a statement on behalf of the party,  expressed its hopes for President Tinubu to exhibit magnanimity in victory by inviting the party’s leadership as partners in progress,…

The African Development Bank (AfDB), along with partners the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, have announced a substantial investment of $1 billion to establish 24 special agro-industrial processing zones (SAPZs) across Nigeria.  This development follows an initial commitment of $520 million aimed at creating eight SAPZs in the country. Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, President of the African Development Bank Group, unveiled this significant investment during his address at the Norman Borlaug International Dialogue, World Food Prize 2023, in Des Moines, Iowa. The initiative aligns with the food security and diversification policy of Nigeria’s Bola Tinubu…

By Israel Adeleke Operatives of the Enugu Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have apprehended 15 suspected internet fraudsters in Enugu, the state capital. The suspects were apprehended on Friday, October 20, 2023, following a tip-off from a reliable source. According to a statement by the EFCC, the suspects are Casmir Ibebuogu Chizaram, Emegbusim Emmanuel Nnamdi, Chinedu Nworji, Nzube Michael, Oranusi Chigozie Sylvester, Francis Mbaeri, Okoro Ugonna Prince, Stanley Amobi, Emegbusim Chukwuka, Nlemoha Kingsley, Ejiofor Franklin, Chidera Peter, Chidiebube Chukwula Peter, Innocent Chukwuka Peter, and Michael Eche. The EFCC reported that it recovered 30 mobile phones,…

Israel Adeleke The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has rejected the label of a terrorist group by the federal government and demanded that the government should appear in court to justify its proscription order. The group, in a statement on Friday, said it is a peaceful movement seeking Biafra’s restoration and had appealed the court’s proscription order since 2018, but the government had been avoiding the hearing. The statement, signed by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful, said the group had been engaging in various peaceful rallies across the world, particularly in Biafra territories, and had no record of violence or…

By Israel Adeleke In a significant investment in agriculture, Ogun State has allocated a total of N135,047,220 to four vital projects throughout 2022, according to the state’s e-procurement website.  These initiatives aim to promote agricultural development and enhance the livelihoods of farmers and fishermen across the region. The projects unveiled by the Ogun State government encompass the establishment of a cotton market, the construction of market stalls in Ogun East and Ogun West Senatorial Districts, the procurement of fishing and fish farm inputs, and the renovation of a central feed depot. An investigation conducted by PLATFORM TIMES in October 2023…

Israel Adeleke A video of a woman crying uncontrollably on the floor after discovering that her OPay account had been emptied has gone viral on social media. The video, posted on TikTok by @brenda_koko, shows the woman in a state of shock and despair as she laments her loss. According to the caption, the woman lost all her money in her OPay account, which is a mobile payment platform that allows users to send and receive money, pay bills, and access other financial services. The video did not reveal the identity of the woman or the location of the incident,…