Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Global human rights organization, Amnesty International, has condemned the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, holding it responsible for the death of 65 Nigerians in stampedes triggered by the distribution of free rice. The deaths occurred in separate incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija within a single week, exposing the depth of hunger and poverty ravaging the nation. In a statement issued on Saturday, Amnesty International attributed the tragic loss of lives to the widespread hunger, high unemployment, and plummeting living standards under Tinubu’s government. The group urged the administration to urgently address the worsening socio-economic conditions that have left…

Dangote Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to sell petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets nationwide. This reduction follows a decrease in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre. Dangote Refinery’s spokesman, Anthony Echiejina, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. The company said the new pricing, which had already been implemented in Lagos, would be rolled out nationwide starting Monday. It stated that the move followed an earlier reduction on November 24, when the off-depot petrol price decreased from N990 to N970 per litre. Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Ltd., commended President…

The South-West region of Nigeria has emerged as the leader in the availability of medical equipment in health facilities, while the North-West records the least, according to the 2023 National Health Facility Survey (NHFS). The report, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and with technical assistance from the World Bank, shows that 48.8 per cent of medical equipment in Nigeria is concentrated in the South-West. In contrast, the North-West region has only 20.9 per cent of its health facilities equipped with functional basic medical equipment, the lowest among…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated counterfeit rice worth N5 billion and shut down eight illegal rice shops and a warehouse in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. In a statement on Friday, the agency revealed that its officials intercepted over 1,600 bags of fake rice at Wuse and Garki markets in Abuja, following a coordinated operation. Kenneth Azikiwe, the head of NAFDAC’s Federal Capital Territory Directorate, who led the operation, said the counterfeit rice was being repackaged in branded bags to deceive unsuspecting consumers. “Upon receiving these intelligence tips, NAFDAC Director-General,…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fined MTN Nigeria Communications Limited the sum of N15 million for violating a customer’s right to privacy through unsolicited messages and callertunes. The judgment, delivered on Friday by Justice Okon Abang, held that MTN’s actions infringed on the privacy and quiet enjoyment of Barrister Ezugwu Emmanuel Anene, a public interest lawyer and MTN subscriber. The case stemmed from a previous ruling by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presided over by Justice U.P. Kekemeke, on September 22, 2021. Anene had sought redress for what he described as a barrage of…

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to attract annual investments of $20 billion to achieve its ambitious $1 trillion economy target by 2030. Edun disclosed this on Friday at the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Implementation of Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables for the Fourth Quarter of 2024, held in Abuja. He explained that the target is crucial to driving economic growth and improving infrastructural development, setting the foundation for long-term sustainability. “We need significantly more growth,” Edun stated. “An additional $20 billion per year is the target we need for social infrastructure…

 The Cross River State Police Command on Friday paraded a couple, Idongesit Akpan and his wife, Angela, for allegedly luring a woman under the pretense of a job offer and subsequently stealing her two children. The Commissioner of Police, Gyogon Grimah, disclosed that the suspects, through a connection on Facebook, deceived Ms. Blessing Godday, a resident of Obubara, into traveling to Akamkpa with her two sons, aged five and three, on December 6. Grimah explained, “The suspects promised Ms. Godday a job opportunity. Upon her arrival in Akamkpa, they took her and her two children to Aba in Abia State,…

The Abia State Command of the Nigeria Correctional Service (NCoS) has refuted allegations of mistreatment of inmates with disabilities in custodial centres across the state, citing safety concerns as the reason for its policy on wheelchairs and metallic clutches. This clarification was made on Friday by the NCoS officer in charge of records at the Umuahia Correctional Centre, Chukwu Iheke, in response to claims raised by the Abia State Chairman of the Spinal Cord Injury Association of Nigeria, Prince David Onuoha. Onuoha had alleged that members of his association housed in various custodial centres in the state were barred from…

A Delta State High Court sitting in Akwukwu-Igbo has sentenced a man, Obinna Eze, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of a six-month-old baby, Chimaobi Igwe. The verdict, delivered by Honourable Justice Marcel Okoh, followed a meticulous trial in which the court found the defendant guilty of charges related to murder, attempted murder, and grievous bodily harm, as outlined under sections 320, 319, and 335 of the Criminal Code Laws of Delta State. The prosecution, led by the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Justice, Mr. Omamuzo Erebe, alongside counsel Messrs J.A. Otite, Solomon Funkekeme…

In a heartwarming demonstration of the Christmas spirit, over 200 widows, children, and underprivileged individuals were treated to a day of joy and generosity at the third edition of the annual Christmas party hosted by the TemmyMo Welfare Initiative in Abeokuta, Ogun State. The initiative, led by Mrs. Modupe Idowu, a retired journalist and businesswoman, was created in memory of her late husband, Mr. Temitope Idowu, whose name is represented in the initiative’s title—”Temmy” for Temitope and “Mo.” for Modupe, reflecting their enduring legacy of compassion. The event, held on Wednesday, embodied the true essence of the season, with Mrs.…