Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In a striking open letter addressed to Arise Television, Oba Akintunde Akinyemi, The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom, vehemently contests allegations against Alhaji Ibrahim Egungbohun, popularly known as IBD Dende.  The controversy was sparked by an investigative report by journalist Fisayo Soyombo, broadcasted recently on Arise Television Nigeria, accusing IBD Dende of being a notorious smuggler with government and media connections. Oba Akinyemi, a First Class Monarch since 2005, asserts the integrity and high pedigree of Alhaji Ibrahim Egungbohun, one of his esteemed subjects.  Dismissing the claims, he clarifies that IBD Dende is a legitimate Clearing and Forwarding Agent engaged in…

 President Bola Tinubu has given the green light for the comprehensive execution of the Oronsaye Report, leading to the merging, subsuming, scrapping, and relocation of numerous government agencies. The announcement came after the Federal Executive Council meeting on Monday at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, where Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed the significant decision.  Idris explained, “In a very bold move today, this administration, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, consistent again with his courage to take very far-reaching decisions in the interest of Nigeria, has taken a decision to implement the so-called Oronsaye…

A senior customs officer assigned to the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has been apprehended and is now set to face trial for extortion.  The officer, whose identity is being withheld, stands accused of extorting N500,000 from a car buyer identified as Muhammad Ahmad. The arrest was carried out on Monday, February 26, 2024, as the Comptroller of the Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘B’ Kaduna, Mr. Dalha Wada-Chedi, handed over the suspected officer to the Customs Police Unit in Kaduna.  The alleged incident took place along the Mokwa-Jebba Road in Niger. Addressing the media at…

Judicial workers in Ogun state have initiated a five-day warning strike starting Monday, citing the non-payment of their 40 percent peculiar allowance.  The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Ogun chapter closed down the state high court and magistrate court in Isabo, Abeokuta, leaving litigants and lawyers stranded as judges were unable to perform their duties. JUSUN state chairman, Olarenwaju Ajiboye, explained that the strike was a result of the state government’s refusal to meet their demands, despite a 21-day ultimatum.  Ajiboye warned that if the government fails to address the issue by March 18, 2024, the union will escalate…

 Daud Olatunji In an exclusive investigation by PLATFORM TIMES, a high-ranking police officer, choosing to remain anonymous, has revealed a disturbing alliance between certain police officers and notorious land grabbers wreaking havoc on landowners in various parts of Ogun State and beyond. While some police officers diligently combat this menace, our investigation exposes that a faction within the police force, specifically in Abuja, zone 2, and Alagbon, strengthens the ranks of these land grabbers by offering them support. Shockingly, some policemen may even be on the payroll of these criminals. Ogun State, the gateway state in Nigeria, has been under…

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed a startling revelation that over 80% of Nigeria’s crude oil is being stolen, amplifying concerns over the country’s economic stability.  Obasanjo made these revelations during the launch of ‘Court and Politics,’ a book authored by Dr. Umar Ardo, in Abuja. The former president, represented by Babangida Aliyu, former governor of Niger State, pointed to the rampant theft of crude oil as a primary cause of the nation’s economic struggles.  He highlighted that unlike other oil-producing countries with transparent records of oil production, Nigeria is unable to account for a significant portion of its crude…

Fawaz Adebisi Families of the hostages abducted in the recent Abuja attack by bandits have launched a desperate plea for assistance from fellow Nigerians as the situation grows increasingly dire. Among those held captive is Abdulazeez Bako, taken from his residence in the Kuduru extension of Bwari, Abuja, alongside six other community members on December 27, 2023. The bandits, demanding a hefty ransom, initially requested 100 million naira from the families, later reducing it to 70 million naira. Despite the families’ efforts to negotiate and meet their demands, the kidnappers remain resolute. Tragically, on February 23, one hostage, Olayinka Ogunyemi,…

In response to a drastic surge in the prices of packaged water, Nigerians are resorting to unclean water sources, raising concerns among health experts about potential outbreaks of water-borne diseases. Health experts, including Dr. Roland Aigbove, former Chairman of Association Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT Chapter, and Dr. Ken Ozoilo, former President of Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), warn of the looming public health crisis due to the increased consumption of unwholesome water. The recent strike by the Abuja chapter of the Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) resulted in a 200% price hike for water, attributing it…

In a united front, a coalition comprising over 80 Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) under the umbrella of Lagos People’s Assembly (LPA) has earnestly pleaded with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and other groups contemplating protests in response to the current economic challenges in the country.  The coalition, emphasizing the need for constructive engagement, believes that protests and strikes are not the solution to the prevailing economic hardship. The coalition, representing a diverse range of interests including public interests, self-determination groups, and small businesses, expressed their ongoing struggle to recover from the aftermath of the EndSARS protest and the lingering effects…

Former Nigerian Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly criticised President Bola Tinubu’s economic approach and has called for a shift towards the reform-oriented strategy employed by Argentina’s new leader, Javier Milei. In a statement titled “Argentina’s Javier Milei approach to reforms should serve as a lesson for Tinubu,” Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), highlighted the contrasting responses of both leaders to their struggling economies in 2023. Abubakar praised Milei’s “comprehensive stabilization plan,” emphasizing the focus on reducing government spending, attracting foreign investment, and streamlining processes. In contrast, he criticized Tinubu’s “ad hoc” reforms and…