Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji In its recently released 2022 Market Competition Report, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) reveals that the country’s affluent customers are the primary beneficiaries of the electricity subsidy. According to the report, the end-user tariff subsidy in Nigeria favors the rich, as the highest-income group consumes significantly more electricity than their lower-income counterparts, consequently reaping more substantial benefits from the subsidy. The report also highlights that the average price for electricity in Nigeria is $0.14, equivalent to N64.4 using the previous official exchange rate, per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This rate is notably lower than the average electricity tariff in…

Israel Adeleke Residents of Ogun State’s capital city, Abeokuta, are sounding the alarm over the distressing surge in the number of children out of school, raising concerns about the long-term implications for both the state’s development and security. Mrs. Oyindamola Ademola, a concerned resident, highlighted the various factors contributing to the rising number of out-of-school children in the state.  Ademola pointed out that disillusionment with the education sector and disturbing incidents like inappropriate advances by educators were causing students to abandon their studies. Ademola cited a personal case, where her friend Tofunmi Adejare refused a lecturer’s inappropriate advances and subsequently…

Fawaz Adebisi In a deeply troubling and escalating trend that has sent shockwaves through the education sector, Ogun State has witnessed a distressing series of attacks and assaults on teachers over the past three years.  These incidents have sparked concerns and call for urgent measures to protect educators and maintain a conducive learning environment. The most recent case occurred on July 23, 2023, when seven students from Isanbi Comprehensive High School, Ilisan Remo, in Ikenne Local Government area, were arraigned before an Ogun State Magistrate Court in Sagamu.  They were accused of a brutal assault on their teacher, Mr. Kolawole…

Daud Olatunji In a recent transparency and accountability ranking report, Ogun State has experienced a significant decline, plummeting from the 13th position to the 34th spot out of 36 Nigerian states.  The report, released by BudgiT, a renowned data and advocacy organization, revealed that Ogun State scored a mere 38 out of 100 in the second quarter of this year. The detailed breakdown of the rating unveiled various shortcomings in Ogun State’s governance practices. Notably, the state received a rating of zero out of 12 in the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and zero out of 13 in the proposed budget. …

Daud Olatunji A growing sense of concern envelops the Ogun State House of Assembly as they unite in a call to action, demanding the immediate release of Hon. Muhammed Bello, the dedicated representative of Sagamu 1 State Constituency. In a bold move on Thursday, the Assembly passed a resounding resolution, sending a clear message to the Department of State Security (DSS) regarding the ongoing detention of their fellow member. The DSS has last month arrested the lawmaker over the cult crisis on his Sagamu constituency. The DSS however released a member of All Progressives Congress and the local government chairman…

Lagos State University (LASU), previously a non-residential institution, is gearing up to offer a remarkable change to its student body.  In an announcement made by the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ibiyemi Olatunji-Bello, LASU is now ready to provide hostel accommodations to its students.  An impressive 8,000-bed hostel facility is set to be allocated at the Ojo Campus, marking a significant shift in the university’s infrastructure. This development follows the handover of a 98-bed female hostel unit by the Lagos State University Development Foundation (LASUDEF), a Non-Governmental Organisation, in July.  Justice Solomon Hunponu-Wusu, Chairman of LASUDEF, expressed the aim of transforming LASU from…

Daud Olatunji   Ibrahim Owodunni, popularly known as Primeboy, has voluntarily turned himself in to the police in connection to the investigation into the death of Ilerioluwa Aloba, also known as Mohbad.  The development was officially announced by Benjamin Hundeyin, the Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, in a statement released on Thursday. Primeboy’s surrender follows his earlier declaration as a wanted individual by the Lagos State Police Command in the ongoing probe into the circumstances surrounding Mohbad’s tragic death on September 12. In response to Primeboy’s surrender, he has been promptly taken into custody for questioning and further necessary…

Daud Olatunji  In Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, a significant increase in the number of filling stations being put up for sale or changing ownership has been observed due to the dwindling patronage caused by the sharp rise in petrol prices. According to a recent investigation by Rockcity FM, over ten filling stations have transitioned to new owners in the past few weeks since petrol prices surged to approximately N600 per litre.  The selling price of these stations varies depending on their location and facilities. The primary buyers in this trend appear to be the Nigerian National Petroleum Company…

Fawaz Adebisi The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic in Abeokuta (MAPOLY) has plunged into a state of turmoil as workers, including members of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Polytechnics (SSANIP), and the Non Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU), have initiated an indefinite strike.  This step comes in response to the alleged non-payment of salaries for the past three months, a situation that has tragically resulted in the loss of lives among the staff, according to the workers. The decision to embark on an indefinite industrial action was reached after congresses were…

Daud Olatunji    The Chicago State University (CSU) has thrown a fresh twist into the political saga surrounding President Bola Tinubu’s academic credentials, as the institution has stated that it does not possess the certificate that Tinubu presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) prior to the 2023 general election. In a dramatic turn of events, Caleb Westberg, the university registrar and deponent/witness, made this revelation during an oral deposition regarding the release of Tinubu’s academic records to his political opponent, Atiku Abubakar, on Monday. Atiku, the presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had sought these…