Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Seven persons have sustained injuries in a gas explosion at a steel company located in the Ogijo area of Sagamu Local Government Area in Ogun State. The incident which occured on Sunday prompted the Ogun State Government to swiftly order the closure of Phoenix Steel Mills. Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ola Oresanya, conducted an on-the-spot assessment at the scene, declaring the immediate closure of the iron rod manufacturing company.  The explosion reportedly impacted the entire production line of the facility. Oresanya added that under the state’s engagement guidelines with industries, the government is set to conduct a comprehensive investigation into…

Jamiu Folarin  The federal government paid over seven billion eight million naira (N7.8 billion) to the Abuja Electricity Development Company (AEDC) to settle electricity bills of ministries, departments and agencies located within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja between 2019 and 2023. Out of the N7.8 billion, the State House popularly referred to as Aso Rock or Presidential Villa paid N750 million between 2020 and 2023. Domicile in the State House are the offices of President Bola Tinubu, Vice President Kashim Shettima and other top presidential appointees. ICIR had reported that AEDC on Monday threatened…

By Raheem Ajayi Leadership defined by integrity, character and competence is critical to institutional strengthening and effective governance. The appointment of Gbenga Alade as the new Managing Director of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) is yet another proof that president Bola Ahmed Tinubu is committed to the ideal of fixing round pegs in round holes in the overriding interest of the country. Without doubt, Mr. Alade’s verifiable record of excellent performance in the financial sector offers a fresh breath of air at AMCON. A first-class graduate of the University of Lagos (and a masters degree from same university) with…

Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Sultan of Sokoto and President General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), has officially announced that Monday, March 11, 2024, will mark the commencement of the Ramadan fast in Nigeria. The declaration was made by Sultan Abubakar in Sokoto on Sunday during a radio and television broadcast, where he revealed the sighting of the new crescent moon.  Reports of the moon sighting were received from various parts of the country, including inputs from Muslim leaders and Islamic organizations. “After due verification and authentication by the national moon sighting committee and states committees’…

Folorunsho Alakija, Nigeria’s wealthiest woman, and her husband, Modupe Alakija, have decided to part ways after over three decades of marriage. According to TheWill’s report, the couple, who once shared a lavish home in Ikoyi, Lagos, no longer reside together. Allegedly, the high-profile duo has been embroiled in frequent disputes, leading Folorunsho Alakija to demand increased privacy within their matrimonial home. Folorunsho Alakija married Modupe Alakija in November 1976 and  reside in Lagos, Nigeria, with their four sons. In response, her husband sought accommodation elsewhere, reportedly residing alone within the same affluent Ikoyi neighborhood. Sources suggest that the couple, parents…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has given a stern ultimatum to Dr. Aminu Maida, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), demanding the immediate restoration of over 40 million blocked mobile lines or face legal action. In a letter dated March 9, 2024, and signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization urged the NCC CEO to revoke the allegedly unlawful directive that led to the blocking of phone lines for millions of Nigerians who linked their SIM cards to their National Identification Numbers (NINs). SERAP emphasized that the directive violates citizens’ rights to…

The Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), is demanding swift compensation for the families of seven indigent Nigerians who lost their lives in a tragic stampede during a rice distribution event in Lagos. In a stern warning issued on Sunday, ASCAB threatens legal action against the Nigeria Customs Service if their plea goes unanswered. Falana emphasized the urgency for the Nigeria Customs Service to identify and compensate the bereaved families promptly. Should their advice be disregarded, ASCAB vows to take the matter to the Federal High Court, citing violations of the fundamental…

President Bola Tinubu has instructed the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to return confiscated food items seized at border communities to their rightful owners. The announcement was made by the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, during a meeting in Katsina with residents from border areas at Kongolam and Mai’Adua stations. President Tinubu’s decision, as conveyed by Adeniyi, comes not from legal requirements but from a genuine desire to extend goodwill to Nigeria. However, there’s a condition attached: the owners must be willing to sell the items in Nigerian markets. Adeniyi stated, “He has directed that those food items seized at…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended two elderly individuals in Maiduguri and Gamboru-Ngala areas of Borno State for their involvement in drug trafficking. The suspects were identified as 70-year-old Mallam Mai Gemu Adam and 65-year-old Yamama Musa. NDLEA Director of Media & Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, announced the arrests on Sunday, revealing that the grandfathers were taken into custody along with 24-year-old Abubakar Ya’u and 28-year-old Babagana Abubakar Ali on Saturday. The joint operation resulted in the recovery of 32,000 ampoules of tramadol injection from the suspects. “In Borno state, NDLEA operatives arrested Mallam Mai Gemu Adam, 70, and…

Former aviation minister Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode has pointed fingers at international communities and agencies for the persistent mass abduction of children and pupils by terrorists in Nigeria. Recent incidents in Kaduna, Borno, and Sokoto, where hundreds were kidnapped within three days, have raised serious concerns. The Sokoto State Police Command confirmed the abduction of 15 Almajiri students in the Gada Local Government Area on Saturday. Responding to these events, Fani-Kayode, in a press statement, alleged that these abductions aimed to undermine Bola Tinubu’s leadership and potentially lead to the country’s dissolution. Fani-Kayode outlined two primary motives behind the abductions: acquiring…