Author: Platform Times Newspaper

By Daud Olatunji Students at Abraham Adesanya Polytechnic (AAP) in Ogun State are gearing up for a peaceful protest in response to the management’s decision to abruptly raise fees for clearance, certificates, convocation, and various other services. The revelation, disclosed in a bulletin from the bursary department on January 15, 2024, has shocked final year students, who find the new charges significantly higher than previous years. According to the notice, ND graduates face a total payment of N75,500, while HND graduates are required to pay N85,000 for clearance, statement of result, certificate, I.T letter, alumni, convocation, and mobilisation fees.  Additional…

Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, has said that  Buhari’s government opted for legal proceedings instead of eliminating Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the outlawed group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Adesina, in his newly launched book ‘Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023),’ asserts that extraditing Kanu back to Nigeria in June 2021 was a favor to provide him an opportunity to present his case in court. Addressing a delegation known as ‘Highly-Respected Igbo Greats,’ Buhari explained his approach, stating, “In the past six years, I have developed a system…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has revealed that the nation experienced a concerning surge in Lassa fever cases throughout 2023. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the development results in a total of 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and a tragic toll of 227 deaths. The Director-General of NCDC,Dr. Adetifa Ifedayo, conveyed this alarming information in a statement released on Thursday. The recorded cases spanned across 28 states and 124 local government areas (LGAs). Dr. Ifedayo emphasized, “Cumulatively, there were 9,155 suspected cases, 1,270 confirmed cases, and 227 deaths, with a Cases Fatality Rate (CFR) of 17.9…

In a remarkable feat, Collins Whitworth, a 400-level civil engineering student at Bayero University Kano, has set a new Guinness World Record for the most faces painted by an individual in 24 hours. Commencing his artistic journey at the new Bayero University Campus on Saturday at 5:00 pm, Whitworth successfully painted a staggering 791 faces by the end of the 24-hour marathon on Sunday. He now awaits official confirmation from the Guinness World Record authorities. The event drew significant support from both fellow students and residents of Kano, who gathered in large numbers to cheer Whitworth on as he pursued…

Minister of Budget and National Planning, Atiku Bagudu, has encouraged Nigerians to hold public officials accountable for the outcomes of the 2024 budget, which features a significant increase in deficit. Bagudu while speaking in an interview addressed concerns about potential negative impacts on the private sector due to increased government borrowing. He assures that borrowing will strictly adhere to legal limits, emphasising the president’s directive to cease unlawful borrowing and highlighting the issuance of bonds as a viable option. Responding to queries about the revenue structure, Bagudu emphasizes the importance of the maritime industry, pointing to the establishment of a…

Former Minister of Health, Olorunnimbe Mamora has pointed fingers at governors, asserting that they played a pivotal role in dismantling Local Government  administration in Nigeria.  According to Mamora, the imposition of caretaker chairmen at the grassroots level and the hindrance of free and fair local government polls by governors have significantly weakened the democratic structure. Mamora, who spoke in  a recent interview on Channels Television, disclosed that the degradation began in 2001 when local government chairmen sought an extension of their tenure to four years, aligning with state and federal levels.  Despite challenges to this move due to constitutional constraints,…

The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has raised alarm over the detention of more than 5,000 Nigerian youths in Benin Republic prisons, citing cases of extrajudicial killings, harassment, maltreatment, and undue detention. In a press statement signed by Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka, OYC National President, and Comrade Nweke Ifeanyichukwu, Secretary General, the organization emphasized the need to bring global attention to the plight of these youths. The OYC disclosed that an estimated 95% of the detainees, predominantly aged between 25 and 50, are innocent individuals engaged in legitimate businesses in various states and cities in the Republic of Benin. The youths…

Daud Olatunji In the aftermath of the devastating explosion that shook Ibadan, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said that the initiation of structural integrity tests on 230 buildings surrounding the explosion point would be carried out by the Nigerian Society of Engineers. The Governor said these tests is aimed at assessing the safety and stability of the affected structures and ensure the well-being of residents in the vicinity. The explosion, which occurred on Tuesday, claimed the lives of five individuals, left nearly 80 injured, and resulted in the destruction of numerous houses and vehicles, leaving thousands homeless. Makinde…

Operatives of the Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps), have apprehended one Kabiru Adedotun, alias K.B, an alleged notorious member of the Eye Confraternity for terrorizing Ogun communities. PLATFORM TIMES gathered this in a statement issued on Sunday from the Office of the State Commander of the Corps, Commander Soji Ganzallo through the Office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf. The statement revealed that the tactical squad of the Corps, while on routine patrol, got information, which made the team go after the suspected cultist. It was…

The Lagos State Government has announced a ban on single-use plastics and Styrofoam packs, popularly called ‘takeaways’ across the state. The state’s Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. Wahab explained that the decision was reached following the menace that single-use plastics especially the non-biodegradable Styrofoam were causing on the environment. “Following the menace which single-use plastics especially non-biodegradable Styrofoam are causing on the environment, the Lagos State government through the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources is hereby announcing a ban on the usage and distribution of Styrofoam and…