Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji  Oil marketers, on Tuesday, countered the position of the Federal Government, as they insisted that the current pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, should not be less than N800/litre if there was no subsidy on the commodity. This assertion came amidst growing concerns about the fuel supply chain and soaring prices at the pump. Petrol currently sells at between N580/litre and N617/litre depending on the area of purchase, as the Federal Government, through its Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), had denied reintroducing PMS subsidy. On Monday, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL,…

Daud Olatunji  The Global Support For Kids Initiative (GSKi) Nigeria  has  called for a joint efforts to end Gender-Based  Violence,saying, one in three girls in Nigeria suffer from Gender-Based Violence. The NGO lamented that  the stark statistic that reveals one in three girls in Nigeria falls victim to some form of gender-based violence. In a heartfelt press release, Alfred Soleye, the Country Director of GSKi Nigeria, said the  distressing revelation underscores the urgency of empowering girls and providing them with equal opportunities and the support they genuinely deserve. He explained that the GSKi marked the International Day of the Girl…

In a determined effort to maintain order and safety on the streets of Abuja, the Security Taskforce of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) conducted a targeted operation, resulting in the impoundment of 69 commercial vehicles across the territory. The impounded vehicles were found in violation of various regulations, including improper parking, the operation of rickety vehicles, and the failure to display proper number plates. The Director of the FCTA Directorate of Road Traffic Services, Mr. Abdulateef Bello, disclosed these developments during a press briefing conducted as part of the operation. Bello reiterated the administration’s unyielding commitment to ridding the…

Daud Olatunji  The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has listed Zamfara, Cross River, Adamawa and Ogun as the states with the highest cholera cases in the country. NCDC’s Incident Manager, Cholera Technical Working Group, Sebastian Yennan, said this at the monthly meeting of the Water Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) in Emergency Working Group on Tuesday in Abuja. According to him, the cases are updates from the centre’s Epidemiology week 39, saying efforts were ongoing in providing response commodities to affected states and others in the country Mr Yennan said NCDC’s intervention through cholera case management was carried…

Daud Olatunji In a sobering update, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has downgraded Nigeria’s economic growth projection, pointing to several challenges facing the nation. According to the IMF’s latest report, titled “World Economic Outlook: Navigating Global Divergences,” Nigeria’s economic growth is set to decline from 3.3 percent in 2022 to just 2.9 percent in 2023. This revision reflects weaker oil and gas production than expected, partly due to necessary maintenance work. High inflation has been a major concern, with the IMF forecasting that the country’s economy will grow at 3.1 percent in 2024, although it will still grapple with the…

Daud Olatunji  In a heartfelt plea, retirees across Nigeria are sounding the alarm about their dire financial situations under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).  They are calling on authorities to end the exploitation and ensure a dignified retirement for all. Under this scheme, retirees face meager monthly pensions and limited access to their life savings. One retiree’s story exemplifies the hardships faced by many. After 35 years of service to the Federal Government, they retired with a meager lump sum payment of only 25% of their savings, while the remaining 75% was retained by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) for investment…

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State is gearing up for a legal battle as it seeks to appeal the recent Federal High Court judgment disqualifying its gubernatorial candidate, Timipre Sylva.  The court ruled that Sylva’s candidacy would violate the 1999 constitution due to his previous terms as governor. In response, the APC, through its Director of Media and Publicity for the APC Bayelsa Governorship Campaign Council, Perry Tukuwei, issued a statement on Tuesday, asserting that the suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was in breach of the Electoral Act. The party expressed confidence that the Court…

Fawaz Adebisi  Ogun State is set to host a two-day Employment Conference in collaboration with the German Government through the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ). This was announced by the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola on Tuesday. According to him, the two-day event, scheduled for Wednesday, October 11, and Thursday, October 12, 2023, aims to address critical employment and job creation issues within the state. He disclosed that the conference would be held at the prestigious Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, commencing…

Fawaz Adebisi The National Examinations Council (NECO) has officially unveiled the results of the 2023 Internal Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), revealing that an impressive 61.60 percent of candidates achieved five credits and above, including English and Mathematics. However, amid this achievement, NECO also exposed a troubling issue, revealing that a total of 93 schools have been implicated in mass cheating during the exams. Also, it was disclosed that 52 supervisors have been recommended for blacklisting due to their role in poor supervision, aiding, and abetting during the examinations. The Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of NECO, Professor Dantani…

Daud Olatunji   The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has officially allocated 1,191 hajj seats to Ogun State in preparation for the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.  This significant announcement was made by Alhaji Salau Babatunde, the Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, during a press conference held in Abeokuta. The allocation of these hajj slots will be conducted on a “first come, first served” basis, ensuring fairness and transparency in the selection process. Alhaji Salau Babatunde also revealed that NAHCON has determined an initial hajj deposit of four million five hundred thousand naira (₦4,500,000.00) for prospective pilgrims,…