Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a heart-wrenching incident, Access Holdings CEO, Herbert Wigwe, along with his wife and two children, met a tragic end when the helicopter they were traveling in crashed near the border city between Nevada and California on Friday night.  The family had departed Lagos State, Nigeria, on Wednesday with the intent of attending Super Bowl 58 in Las Vegas, scheduled for Sunday, February 11, 2024, at Allegiant Stadium. The ill-fated chopper, en route to Las Vegas, crashed near Nipton on the edge of the Mojave Desert.  The devastating accident claimed not only the life of Herbert Wigwe but also that…

In a shocking incident on Saturday morning, gunmen intercepted a GOU Transport Company bus on the Shagamu-Benin Expressway.  Tragically, they killed the driver and abducted all 18 passengers, causing chaos and prompting onlookers to park their vehicles. The assailants struck as the driver attempted a U-turn upon spotting them, leading to the fatal encounter.  Amid the chaos, a teenage girl was left stranded as the gunmen kidnapped her parents and fellow passengers.  The bus, now abandoned by the roadside, held the passengers who were taken into the nearby bush. The discovery of the driver’s lifeless body occurred when a sympathizer…

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, paid tribute to the late Major-General Ekundayo Opaleye (Rtd.), hailing him as a patriot who embodied courage, integrity, leadership, and unwavering commitment to both the Nigerian Army and the nation.  Speaking at Opaleye’s burial ceremony at the Green Legacy Resorts Hall, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Governor Abiodun acknowledged the significant void left by the departed elder statesman in both his immediate family and the state. Represented by Deputy Governor Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Abiodun highlighted Opaleye’s distinguished roles during his active service in the Nigerian Army. According to him, he served as the Military Administrator…

President Bola Tinubu has granted approval for the inauguration and funding of the 37-man Tripartite Committee on the New National Minimum Wage, allocating N500 million for the purpose. This decision followed the submission of a budget request by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, initially seeking N1 billion for the committee’s activities. In a letter titled ‘Request For Approval Of Funds And Inauguration Of The Tripartite Committee On National Minimum Wage,’ Akume proposed the release of N1 billion for the committee’s work, scaled down from an initial request of N1.8 billion. The inauguration date was…

In a recent briefing before the Joint Senate Committee on Finance, Banking, Insurance, and Financial Institutions, Central Bank Governor Yemi Cardoso shared promising outcomes from the apex bank’s initiatives to stabilize foreign exchange rates. Cardoso highlighted that the measures implemented by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) are already demonstrating success in stabilizing foreign exchange rates, aiming to minimize the inflationary impact caused by high exchange rates. During the committee briefing on Friday, Cardoso revealed that the CBN interventions have resulted in an influx of $1 billion into the Nigerian market over the past few days, a tangible sign of…

President Bola Tinubu has announced plans to regulate social media to combat the spread of misinformation and abuse, emphasizing the need for responsible discourse. The revelation came during the presentation of the book ‘Nigerian Public Discourse: The Interplay of Empirical Evidence and Hyperbole’ by former Minister Babatunde Fashola in Lagos on Friday. Represented by Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila, President Tinubu expressed concern over the proliferation of fake information on social media, leading to confusion and deception among citizens. He highlighted the global challenges and changing dynamics, urging leaders to engage in evidence-based discourse for the sake of the nation’s…

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has issued a stern warning of an imminent mass protest, citing their struggle against the economic downturn that has left many members in dire circumstances. NUP President, Godwin Abumisi, expressed the urgency of the situation during a press conference in Abuja on Thursday. He revealed that the economic downturn had taken a toll on pensioners, leading to a surge in the cost of living and the unfortunate loss of around 1,500 union members due to economic hardships. Mr. Abumisi highlighted the grim reality faced by pensioners, where some receive as little as N450 as…

In a recent development, the FCT Directorate of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has taken action against two pizza outlets in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for utilizing expired dough blend seasoning. Mr. Ozigis Abdulsalam, the FCT Director of NAFDAC, revealed this information in a statement released on Friday in Abuja. The regulatory body acted promptly based on intelligence information, conducting inspections at pizza outlets. During these inspections, it was discovered that two establishments were incorporating expired dough blend seasoning in their pizza preparations. Additionally, the inspection revealed that the same outlets were using…

In a recent development, the Federal High Court in Abuja has dismissed a suit filed by Hudu Yunusa-Ari, the suspended Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Adamawa. Yunusa-Ari sought protection against arrest, detention, or prosecution by the police and other authorities. Justice James Omotosho delivered the judgment, stating that the suit lacked merit. Despite Yunusa-Ari’s efforts to shield himself from legal actions, the court found no grounds for granting such immunity. Justice Omotosho agreed with the respondents that Yunusa-Ari’s claims were compromised when he accused them of subjecting him to a media trial. The judge emphasized that the media’s reporting, being…

In a bid to combat corruption and ensure fair access to essential commodities, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has urged the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to conduct a thorough investigation into the reported hoarding activities of essential commodities by certain marketers. The call was made during a meeting between the Sultan and ICPC Commissioner Alhaji Garba Tukur-Idris, who oversees Sokoto, Kebbi, and Zamfara. Abubakar emphasized that hoarding food items for profit, particularly during Ramadan fasting, is a corrupt practice that goes against religious principles and legal regulations. “Hoarding essential commodities with the intent…