Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has directed all its zonal, territorial, and operational offices to remain on high alert following a spate of fatal stampedes during palliative distribution events across the country. This announcement came in the wake of tragic incidents in Ibadan, Oyo State; Okija, Anambra State; and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, where stampedes claimed multiple lives and left many injured within a span of four days. In a statement issued on Saturday, NEMA’s Director-General, Zubaida Umar, expressed deep concern over the recurring loss of lives during acts of charity. She lamented the poor planning and inadequate…

The Makun Central Mosque, located in Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State, celebrated its 30th anniversary on Saturday with a series of events that underscored its contributions to the Islamic community and its enduring legacy. The grand celebration, held at the Ansar-Deen Primary School playground in Makun, featured the launch of a book titled Islam in Makun Sagamu, the unveiling of a community pharmacy, and the conferment of Islamic titles on notable individuals who have made significant contributions to the mosque’s growth and development. The event drew prominent figures, including the Chief Imam of Makun Kingdom, Dr. Tajudeen Kolawole…

The Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) on Saturday auctioned approximately 20,000 liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, at ₦630 per liter in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. The auction, which took place at Afoo Filling Station in the Masfala area, involved petrol intercepted from smugglers. According to the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Comptroller Hussein Ejibunu, the tanker containing the petrol was seized alongside 30 kegs, each with a capacity of 25 liters, during an attempted smuggling operation. Comptroller Ejibunu disclosed that the total duty-paid value of the confiscated 30,750 liters was estimated at ₦42.75 million. He…

Meet Korede Elijah Adewunmi, OAU’s Best Graduating Student in Philosophy, Class of 2023, at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State with  an exceptional CGPA of 4.94. In this interview with KOREDE BADMUS, he delves into his academic journey, challenges, and aspirations. Can we meet you? I’m Korede Elijah Adewunmi, a 2023 graduate of Philosophy from Obafemi Awolowo University, where I emerged as the Best Graduating Student with a CGPA of 4.94. My passion lies in philosophical inquiries, particularly in ethics—bioethics, environmental ethics, the ethics of emerging science and technology, and the philosophy of mind. I am drawn to how philosophical…

Global human rights organization, Amnesty International, has condemned the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, holding it responsible for the death of 65 Nigerians in stampedes triggered by the distribution of free rice. The deaths occurred in separate incidents in Ibadan, Abuja, and Okija within a single week, exposing the depth of hunger and poverty ravaging the nation. In a statement issued on Saturday, Amnesty International attributed the tragic loss of lives to the widespread hunger, high unemployment, and plummeting living standards under Tinubu’s government. The group urged the administration to urgently address the worsening socio-economic conditions that have left…

Dangote Refinery has partnered with MRS Oil and Gas to sell petrol at N935 per litre at retail outlets nationwide. This reduction follows a decrease in the ex-depot price from N970 to N899.50 per litre. Dangote Refinery’s spokesman, Anthony Echiejina, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. The company said the new pricing, which had already been implemented in Lagos, would be rolled out nationwide starting Monday. It stated that the move followed an earlier reduction on November 24, when the off-depot petrol price decreased from N990 to N970 per litre. Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Ltd., commended President…

The South-West region of Nigeria has emerged as the leader in the availability of medical equipment in health facilities, while the North-West records the least, according to the 2023 National Health Facility Survey (NHFS). The report, released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and with technical assistance from the World Bank, shows that 48.8 per cent of medical equipment in Nigeria is concentrated in the South-West. In contrast, the North-West region has only 20.9 per cent of its health facilities equipped with functional basic medical equipment, the lowest among…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has confiscated counterfeit rice worth N5 billion and shut down eight illegal rice shops and a warehouse in Karu Local Government Area of Nasarawa State. In a statement on Friday, the agency revealed that its officials intercepted over 1,600 bags of fake rice at Wuse and Garki markets in Abuja, following a coordinated operation. Kenneth Azikiwe, the head of NAFDAC’s Federal Capital Territory Directorate, who led the operation, said the counterfeit rice was being repackaged in branded bags to deceive unsuspecting consumers. “Upon receiving these intelligence tips, NAFDAC Director-General,…

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has fined MTN Nigeria Communications Limited the sum of N15 million for violating a customer’s right to privacy through unsolicited messages and callertunes. The judgment, delivered on Friday by Justice Okon Abang, held that MTN’s actions infringed on the privacy and quiet enjoyment of Barrister Ezugwu Emmanuel Anene, a public interest lawyer and MTN subscriber. The case stemmed from a previous ruling by the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), presided over by Justice U.P. Kekemeke, on September 22, 2021. Anene had sought redress for what he described as a barrage of…

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to attract annual investments of $20 billion to achieve its ambitious $1 trillion economy target by 2030. Edun disclosed this on Friday at the Citizens and Stakeholders Engagement on the Implementation of Presidential Priorities and Ministerial Deliverables for the Fourth Quarter of 2024, held in Abuja. He explained that the target is crucial to driving economic growth and improving infrastructural development, setting the foundation for long-term sustainability. “We need significantly more growth,” Edun stated. “An additional $20 billion per year is the target we need for social infrastructure…