Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A  group of 31 young climate leaders has committed to planting 10,000 trees across Enugu State.  This ambitious endeavor was announced during a recent visit coordinated by Prof Chukwumerije Okereke to Enugu State Governor, Peter Mbah. The visit, a key component of the International Visitors’ Leadership Programme impact award bestowed upon Okereke by the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Education and Cultural Affairs, aimed to apprise the state government of the group’s vision to transform Enugu into a green and climate-resilient city. Prof. Okereke, the driving force behind this eco-conscious movement, highlighted the comprehensive training program that led to…

In a recently published report by Canalys, it has been disclosed that the African smartphone market experienced a robust 12% year-on-year growth in the third quarter of 2023, with a total of 17.9 million units shipped to the continent during this period. Contrary to the global trend, where the smartphone market faced a one per cent decline in the same quarter, the African market showcased resilience and a growing appetite for mobile technology.  The report highlighted that TRANSSION, the mobile group encompassing Tecno, Infinix, and iTel brands, maintained its dominance with a 48% market share, achieving a notable 9% annual…

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has reiterated his stance that he would not authorize payment to the sacked local government chairmen until directed by the Supreme Court.  The governor made this declaration in Ibadan yesterday while addressing the recent garnishee order on state government accounts obtained from an Abuja Federal High Court by the dismissed local government chairmen in 2019. Justice A.O. Ebong issued the order on December 15, attaching the state government’s accounts in 10 commercial banks across the country. This directive followed a garnishee proceeding initiated by the local government chairmen, who were relieved of their positions…

In a startling announcement, the World Health Organization (WHO) has sounded the alarm over a significant surge in dengue infections worldwide in 2023, posing a potential high-risk scenario for public health. At a press briefing held at the UN headquarters in Geneva, WHO’s Team Lead on Arboviruses, Dr. Diana Rojas Alvarez, disclosed that more than five million cases of dengue and 5,000 deaths have been reported globally this year. Dengue, a viral infection primarily transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes, is prevalent in urban areas within tropical and sub-tropical climates. Dr. Alvarez stressed the critical need for immediate attention…

Justice Joy Unwana of the Akwa Ibom High Court, and her driver, who were abducted by gunmen, have been successfully rescued.  Ini Ememobong, the Commissioner for Information in Akwa Ibom state, confirmed the positive development in a statement issued yesterday. The judge and her driver fell victim to the assailants while returning from a court session.  Tragically, the gunmen also took the life of the police officer assigned to protect Justice Joy Unwana during the violent kidnapping. Expressing concern for the well-being of the judge and her driver, the state governor conveyed sympathy for the trauma they undoubtedly experienced at…

The First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has declared that Nigeria could not be characterised as a poor nation,advising the wealthy ones in the country to take care of the less privileged. She also challenged prevailing perceptions about the country’s economic status. The statement followed a heartfelt Christmas celebration organized for the children of Nana Berry Orphanage in Abuja. Emphasising her optimism for the coming year, Senator Tinubu prophesied that 2024 would be a glorious period for Nigerians. During her address, she urged parents to instill hope in their children, emphasizing the importance of transforming the lives of the…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) says it has installed  148,389 meters in households between July and September.  This revelation was part of the commission’s third quarterly report, made public on its website over the weekend. While the figures denote a commendable effort in enhancing metering infrastructure, there was a slight dip in installations compared to the previous quarter.  The Q3 installations showed a decline by 32,670, in contrast to the robust 181,059 meters installed in the second quarter of 2023. During the third quarter, NERC employed various frameworks to execute its metering initiatives.  Under the Meter Asset Provider (MAP)…

A fatal collision unfolded on Saturday, on the J4 section of the Sagamu/Ijebu-Ode/Ore highway, resulting in the loss of two lives and leaving seven individuals injured. The accident which occured at 3:35pm on Saturday, involved a Chevrolet SUV with the license plate WWW75MW and a truck marked SRA584XB. The spokesperson for the Federal Road Safety Corps in Ogun State, Florence Okpe, confirmed the incident, disclosing that the crash led to the injury of six men and one woman, while one man and one woman succumbed to their injuries. She siad that investigations by FRSC revealed that excessive speed and road…

The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State,Ladi Adebutu has returned to Nigeria after spending eight months in the United Kingdom.  Adebutu’s return was marked by a warm reception at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos on Friday night, where he was welcomed by his running mate, Adekunle Akinlade, Tola Banjo, and other leaders of the PDP in Ogun State. The former House of Representatives member, who had been away for medical attention following the general elections, arrived with an air of anticipation surrounding his return.  A video captured the moment Adebutu touched down on…

Daud Olatunji A  probe into the Central Bank of Nigeria  has uncovered a fraudulent withdrawal of $6.3 million just days before the 2023 presidential election. The investigation, led by Special Investigator Mr. Jim Obazee, appointed by President Bola Tinubu, has recommended the trial of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and 12 top executives of the CBN for their alleged involvement in the illicit transaction. The funds were purportedly taken from the vaults of the Foreign Payments Office, Abuja Branch, as captured on CCTV between February 7th and 8th, 2023. The Investigator revealed that the suspicious withdrawal…