Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A transformative bill that proposes a return to a regional government structure in Nigeria is currently under consideration by the National Assembly.  Expected to be enacted by October 1, 2024, this bill aims to overhaul the nation’s governance model, reverting to a system that grants greater autonomy to Nigeria’s diverse regions. The draft bill, which has generated considerable discussion on social media, is titled “A Bill for an Act to Substitute the Annexure to Decree 24 of 1999 with a New Governance Model for the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”  If passed, it would become known as the Constitution of the…

The Global Fund has allocated a significant grant of $933 million to Nigeria under its Grant Cycle 7 (GC7), spanning from 2024 to 2026.  This substantial funding aims to address the pervasive public health challenges posed by HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria in the country. Of the total amount, $340,095,438 is specifically earmarked for HIV-related initiatives. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) will receive $10,663,394 to spearhead the coordination of a comprehensive, multisectoral response to the HIV epidemic. NACA disclosed this development on Friday through a press statement signed by its Head of Public Relations and Protocol,…

In the aftermath of a violent ambush that left five soldiers dead at a checkpoint in Abia State, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has categorically denied any involvement in the attack. The separatist group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, issued a statement distancing IPOB from the incident and pointing to political elements as the real culprits. The attack occurred on Thursday, coinciding with the day IPOB designated to commemorate Biafra Day. Gunmen ambushed a military checkpoint, opening fire and resulting in the tragic deaths of the soldiers. Despite the timing, IPOB has refuted any connections to the violent act. “Those responsible…

The Islamic State – West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists have issued a chilling ultimatum to residents of Kukawa Local Government Area (LGA), demanding they vacate their communities or face death. This threat comes just four days after ISWAP militants brutally murdered fifteen fishermen in the Tumbun Rogo community. A resident, who escaped to Maiduguri shortly after receiving the threat, shared his harrowing experience with Channels Television on the condition of anonymity.  He recounted that in the early hours of Thursday, ISWAP terrorists gathered residents from various communities within the LGA and ordered them to leave by Saturday, or be killed.…

The Defence Headquarters of Nigeria has vowed a fierce and overwhelming retaliation against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) following the killing of five soldiers in Abia State on Thursday.  The soldiers were ambushed and killed by gunmen enforcing a sit-at-home order issued by IPOB to commemorate the Igbo people who died during the Nigerian Civil War from 1967 to 1970. In an official statement released on Friday, Major General Edward Buba, the Director of Defence Media Operations, accused IPOB and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), of perpetrating the attack.  He emphasized that the military’s response would…

The Abia State Government has announced a N25 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of those responsible for the killing of five soldiers in the Aba area.  This action comes in response to a violent attack on a military unit at Obikabia Junction, Ogbor Hill, where gunmen stormed the site, killing soldiers, burning the unit, and setting ablaze a patrol van. In the wake of the attack, some soldiers reportedly escaped, but the state government has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life.  In a statement, the government condoled with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.…

The civic organization New Nigerian Voice has described  the first year of President Bola Tinubu’s administration as a period marked by severe hardship and increasing health crises among Nigerians.  The group’s Executive Secretary, Omokehinde Agbedina disclosed this on Friday, urging Tinubu to recognize and address the harsh realities faced by Nigerians, highlighting the detrimental impact of recent governmental decisions.  Agbedina questioned the ethics of leaders who, despite being elected by the people, have implemented policies that exacerbate poverty and suffering. “How can anyone with the faintest of conscience live a normal life with a reality whereby the same citizens who…

The Nigerian Ministry of Interior, under the leadership of Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has uncovered a significant security breach involving 2,400 foreigners attempting to obtain Nigerian passports using fraudulent National Identity Numbers (NINs).  Tunji-Ojo made this disclosure during a courtesy visit by President and Chairman of the Chartered Institute of Forensics and Certified Fraud Investigators of Nigeria,Dr. Illiyasu Gashinbaki and his team. The visit, held on Wednesday, provided a platform for discussing the imperative of identity management in tackling identity theft and related crimes in Nigeria. In a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Ozoya Imohimi, Tunji-Ojo…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government to address the mounting debt and non-payment issues plaguing the power sector.  According to the NERC’s latest report for the fourth quarter of 2023, the sector faces significant financial challenges due to unpaid debts by both local and international customers, alongside persistently low power supply. The report  by Channels Television reveals that electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) and four international customers collectively owe the power sector ₦97.5 billion as of the fourth quarter of 2023.  Specifically, the 11 DisCos are responsible for ₦81 billion of this…

President Bola Tinubu has stressed  the critical importance of addressing the needs of rural areas to spur economic development in Nigeria.  The President urged the  state governments to enhance their focus on local communities, ensuring that the administration of local governments is both accountable and effective. He said this at  a recent meeting with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. He said “we are running a constitutional democracy. I will appeal to you to summon the governors. I am doing my very best to enhance the revenue base of the country.  “They must equally be…