Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In a decisive session at the Ogun State House of Assembly, nine commissioner nominees received unanimous approval, marking a significant step in shaping the state’s leadership.  The confirmation followed the withdrawal of Mr. Oshunbiyi Tunde’s nomination by State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun. The Committee of the Whole House, led by Speaker Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, adopted the report presented by Deputy Speaker Bolanle Ajayi, who subsequently moved for its acceptance. This motion was seconded by Lukmon Atobatele, solidifying the nominees’ status. Majority Leader Yusuf Sheriff moved a motion for the confirmation of the nominees, seconded by Minority…

Daud Olatunji In a landmark ruling on Monday, a federal high court in Kubwa, Abuja, handed down a life imprisonment sentence to Dr. Abubakar Mustapha Danraka, a former Chief Pharmacist of the National Hospital, Abuja, and Senior Special Adviser (Technical) to the Director of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development.  The conviction, made under Section 1 of the VAPP Act of 2015, stems from charges dating back to August 9, 2021. Dr. Danraka, who had pleaded “not guilty” during his arraignment on April 5, 2022, was found guilty of defiling a minor living in the same Abuja…

Daud Olatunji In a significant development for Nigeria’s energy landscape, the Dangote Refinery is on the verge of commencing petrol production by November 30, 2023.  This milestone is part of the refinery’s ambitious plan to produce diesel and jet fuel by October 2023, as revealed by the group’s Executive Director, Devakumar Edwin. Edwin, during an exclusive interview with S&P Global Commodity Insights, announced that the refinery is all set to receive its inaugural crude cargo within the next two weeks, marking the initial steps towards producing up to 370,000 barrels per day of diesel and jet fuel by October 2023.…

Adejoke Adebiyi In a recent development, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) has emphasized the urgent need for an additional 20,000 schools and close to 1 million classrooms to address the alarming issue of out-of-school children in Nigeria. The revelation was made public through a statement from the Federal Ministry of Education, where Ben Goong, the Director of Press, shared this critical information during a Tuesday briefing. UBEC’s Executive Secretary, Hammed Boboyi, presented these staggering statistics while providing an update on the agency’s ongoing initiatives to the Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman. However, controversy surrounds the true extent…

Aminat Gusanu In a heartfelt display of solidarity, a passionate assembly of young individuals from the Panseke area of Abeokuta flooded the streets to demand justice in the wake of the untimely death of the beloved musician, Ilerioluwa Aloba, renowned as Mohbad, who tragically passed away last Tuesday. Gathering at the bustling skating ground arena in Abeokuta, these youth, cloaked in somber black attire, raised their voices and brandished placards etched with powerful messages such as #JusticeForMohbad and #WhoTurnedOffTheLight. Their poignant signs underscored a fervent call for answers and justice in this perplexing tragedy. As previously reported by PLATFORM TIMES,…

Daud Olatunji The Chairman of Abeokuta-South Local Government, Omolaja Majekodunmi, has finally addressed the controversial leaked audio attributed to him, vehemently denying his involvement and affirming his unwavering loyalty to Governor Dapo Abiodun. Majekodunmi, self-identifying as a devoted follower in the ranks of Governor Abiodun, has come forward to clarify the authenticity of the audio recording, which purportedly captured his voice. He revealed that he had been pressured by friends from both within Nigeria and abroad to speak out regarding this audio, which had caused a stir. Previously, PLATFORM TIMES had exclusively published a report featuring a 2-minute and 48-second…

Fawaz Adebisi Oba Adokun of Igan Okoto, in Yewa North, Dr. Mukaila Salako, had threatened to banish herdsmen from his kingdom for damaging crops of farmers in some communities. Oba Salako, on Thursday, having gotten complains from his people, summoned the community herdsmen leader, popularly called Seriki, to discuss and prevent farmers/herders clash. According to the monarch, he gets distress calls everyday from farmers in the community, lamenting how some herdsmen, with cows, destroyed their farmland. He therefore gave the Seriki warning, threatening to send them away if he gets any complain again. He said, “this is our land, you…

Daud Olatunji In a financial report released today, it has been revealed that Nigeria is currently servicing an impressive portfolio of World Bank loans valued at $14.12 billion.  This information is based on data retrieved from the official World Bank website. Diving into the details, it was discovered that these loans are spread across 108 approved projects, spanning several decades of Nigeria’s economic history.  The oldest among them dates back to 1989 during the administration of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, while the most recent was sanctioned in 2018 under the leadership of former President Muhammadu Buhari. One of the most historical…

Daud Olatunji In a financial report released today, it has been revealed that eight prominent deposit banks in Nigeria, including United Bank for Africa (UBA), Zenith Bank, First Bank, Wema Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank (GTCO), Fidelity Bank, Sterling Bank, and FCMB, collectively amassed an astounding N3.9 trillion in gross earnings during the first half of the 2023 financial year. These figures were sourced from the financial statements of the aforementioned banks, which were made accessible on the Nigerian Exchange Limited’s website. Zenith Bank emerged as one of the standout performers, experiencing an impressive 139 percent growth in gross earnings,…

Daud Olatunji In a noteworthy financial turnaround, Oando, a prominent indigenous oil company, has disclosed a remarkable profit after tax of N32.9 billion in their recently released audited 2021 accounts, marking a resurgence from their N140.7 billion loss in 2020. The report further highlights a significant growth in turnover, with a substantial 68 percent increase from N477.1 billion in 2020 to a staggering N803.5 billion in 2021, showcasing the company’s robust performance. However, amid the celebration of this financial success, concerns emerge as Oando’s debt escalates by 10 percent, soaring from N419.6 billion to N460.8 billion, raising questions about…