Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Alfred Achebe, has sounded the alarm regarding the distressing increase in the rate of drug abuse in the community.  During his address at the 2023 Ofala Festival, themed “Better, Stronger, Together,” he highlighted the concerning prevalence of drug addiction among the youth, shedding light on a growing social crisis. Igwe Achebe, a respected traditional leader who also serves as the Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, expressed his deep concern over the rising specter of drug addiction plaguing Onitsha and its environs in Anambra State.  He identified this issue as one of the…

The long-standing dispute over the N120 billion Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) debt between telecommunications operators and Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) in Nigeria may escalate to a legal battle as telecoms operators consider pursuing their dues. This ongoing impasse, spanning four years, has begun to create a growing divide between the telecoms sector and the financial industry, with significant implications for both. Chairman of the Association of Licensed Telecoms Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), Gbenga Adebayo, expressed his regret that the issue has taken on a political dimension, emphasizing that it is fundamentally a commercial matter.  He likened it to a…

Daud Olatunji In its recent report on ‘Africa: Special Issue: In Pursuit of Stronger Growth and Resilience,’ the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has raised concerns about Nigeria’s increasing debt burden.  The IMF projects that Nigeria’s government debt will surge by 4.3 percent of its GDP in 2024, from 38.8 percent in 2023. Nigeria has witnessed a steady rise in government debt to GDP, from 21.9 percent in 2019 to 34.5 percent in the COVID-19 year, and further to 36.5 percent in 2021 and 39.6 percent in 2022.  The nation grapples with the aftermath of the pandemic, a sluggish global economy,…

Daud Olatunji In a recent report by the Pew Research Center, Nigeria has secured the position of the second most prayerful country worldwide.  Afghanistan claimed the top spot with a remarkable 96% prayer rate, closely followed by Nigeria at 95%. The Pew Research Center, a non-partisan American think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C., is known for providing comprehensive data on social issues, public opinion, and demographic trends that influence the United States and the global landscape. Here is the list of the most prayerful countries across the globe: Afghanistan: 96% Nigeria: 95% Algeria: 88% Senegal: 88% Djibouti: 87% Iran: 87%…

In a significant move aimed at driving economic progress in the Owu communities, Boiling Point Media has partnered with Lead Resources, a financial services company.  The collaboration, a testament to their commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility, seeks to revolutionize the economic landscape, providing a blueprint to lift people out of poverty. As part of their joint efforts to foster an Agenda for Sustainable Local and Community Economic Development across Nigeria, both organizations are set to initiate intervention schemes that will empower communities, steering them away from the shackles of economic hardship. Owu Kingdom has been chosen as the pilot project…

…  Only Govt. Hospital Abandoned, Turned to Polling Booth … Quacks reign As Medical Workers Flee In an emotional and heart-wrenching exposé, DAUD OLATUNJI, Editor of PLATFORM TIMES, embarked on a soul-stirring journey to the heart of Igbokofin, a  community nestled within Yewa North Local Government of Ogun State, where a grim reality has been silently claiming the lives of pregnant women. A trip to this remote corner of the state revealed a community on the brink, where death has become an unwelcome resident due to the severe lack of accessible healthcare facilities.  Igbokofin, sharing a border with Benin…

The Igbo apex socio-cultural organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, is taking concrete steps to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).  In a significant move, the organization has announced its intentions to meet with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a prominent political figure, to advocate for Kanu’s immediate release. The President of Ohanaeze, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, disclosed this development on Saturday during a gathering at his residence where he received the leadership of the Supreme Council of Nigeria Traditional Rulers, Southeast chapter.  Iwuanyanwu’s statements shed light on the crucial role the Igbo community plays…

Daud Olatunji  Maiduguri, Nigeria – In a landmark case, the Maiduguri Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has successfully secured the conviction and sentencing of two individuals, Goni Muhammad and Seidu Seriki Hamani, to seven years imprisonment for their involvement in a fraudulent scheme involving counterfeit gold purportedly belonging to former First Lady, Mrs. Patience Jonathan. The defendants, Goni Muhammad and Seidu Seriki Hamani, were arraigned on May 16, 2022, before Justice Aisha Kumaliya of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.  They faced two-count charges related to conspiracy and obtaining under false pretense, with…

Daud Olatunji A  prominent Christian leader, Prof. Bature, the National President of Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Nigeria, has praised President Bola  Tinubu for dispelling apprehensions surrounding the Muslim-Muslim ticket of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).  Bature commended Tinubu for his judicious balance in making political appointments since taking office, thereby assuaging concerns raised by some Christians and their leaders regarding the emergence of a Muslim-Muslim ticket for the 2023 presidential election. Tinubu, alongside Kashim Shettima, both Muslims, was selected as the presidential candidate and vice-presidential candidate of the APC, sparking controversy among some Christian groups.  Allegations surfaced that the…

Daud Olatunji In a significant legal development, Aisha Alkali Wakil, popularly known as “Mama Boko Haram,” has been arraigned alongside two others, Tahiru Saidu Daura and Prince Lawal Shoyode, before Justice Umaru Fadawu of the Borno State High Court, Maiduguri.  They are facing charges of conspiracy and cheating, involving a substantial sum of N150,000,000. The trio, who held key positions at the Complete Care and Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organization, are accused of dishonestly inducing Alhaji Bulama Bakki, the CEO of Bakki Commodity Investment Company Limited, and Ngumati Investment Company Limited in August 2018.  The alleged scam revolved around the…