Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Aminat Gusanu In a major breakthrough, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has seized a colossal haul of 14,481,519 pills of Tramadol and bottles of codeine syrup, with an estimated value of over thirteen billion Naira, in a series of meticulously planned operations across multiple locations in Lagos. Femi Babafemi, the Director of Media & Advocacy of NDLEA, revealed these significant drug cartel busts in a press statement issued on Sunday.  The meticulously executed operations took place in Amuwo Odofin, Idumota, and the SAHCO shed of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Ikeja, Lagos. The series of actions began…

Daud Olatunji In the bustling streets of Mile 12, Lagos, Mrs. Oluwole Olufunke, a proud graduate of Accounting Education from Lagos State University (LASU), is defying the odds and demonstrating the indomitable spirit that resides within her.  Her story is one of trials, resilience, and unwavering hope, and it serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by many in Nigeria. Mrs. Olufunke’s journey into hawking was not a choice she made lightly; it was born out of necessity.  A widow and mother of three, she had been employed before the devastating wave of Covid-19 hit, leaving her jobless…

The manufacturing sector in Nigeria has witnessed a significant increase in its debt to banks, with a rise from N5.56 trillion in January 2023 to N6.98 trillion in June 2023, according to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Sectoral Analysis of Deposit Money Banks’ Credit.  This surge in debt is indicative of the challenges faced by the industry and its reliance on bank financing to sustain operations. Between January and June 2023, manufacturers in Nigeria borrowed a substantial sum of N1.42 trillion, further emphasizing the sector’s need for financial support to maintain growth and operations.  This increase in borrowing resulted in…

Daud Olatunji In a bid to address the ongoing strike and turmoil at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta (MAPOLY), the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Abeokuta Muslim Alumni (MAPAMA) has issued a press statement calling for a comprehensive solution to the institution’s problems.  The strike, which has led to the total shutdown of academic and non-academic activities for over a month, has raised concerns about the future of the once-prosperous institution. MAPAMA expressed distress over the fact that MAPOLY, which once birthed four other Information and Communication Technology (ICT) polytechnics in the state, is now mired in crises that have persisted for five…

Peculiar Tonkumoh In a significant development, the Illorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has successfully convicted a 26-year-old forex trader, Kolawole Joshua, and two other individuals, Abdullahi Isiak and Daniel Orji, for their involvement in internet fraud.  The EFCC made this announcement via their official social media handle, and the convictions were handed down by Justice Mahmoud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. Kolawole Joshua, Abdullahi Isiak, and Daniel Orji, who were arrested at different locations in the state, pleaded guilty to one-count separate charges related to internet fraud. Joshua’s charge involved…

Daud Olatunji In a thought-provoking review of PR Primus Magazine’s latest edition, Chief Fassy Adetokunboh O. Yusuf, a distinguished PR expert, has thrown his weight behind the moves to eliminate quackery in the fields of journalism and Public Relations.  Chief Yusuf’s insightful evaluation underscores the imperative requirement for elevating professional standards and ethics within these crucial professions. Chief Yusuf’s comprehensive analysis of Volume 1, Number 10 edition of PR Primus Magazine delves into various topics, highlighting the limitations of propaganda and the significance of the fourth and fifth estates of the realm, all while strongly advocating for the removal of…

The Kano Division of the Court of Appeal has officially scheduled Monday, November 6, 2023, for the hearing of the appeal filed by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State.  This appeal challenges the contentious decision of the State Election Petitions Tribunal, which resulted in the removal of Governor Yusuf from his position as the state governor. In an announcement made to the press, the appellate court has confirmed that the case bearing number CA/KN/EP/GOV/KAN/34/2023 will be heard on Monday at the Court of Appeal in Abuja.  Parties involved in this high-stakes legal battle encompass Governor Yusuf, representing the New…

Aminat Gusanu The Director of the National Population Commission, Alhaji Ismaila Al-Hassan Dogo, announced that Kano State has registered 933,589 child births through the newly introduced digital registration system.  He made this disclosure during a media dialogue on birth registration organized by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kano. UNICEF initiated a plan to target approximately one million unregistered children in Kano, aged zero to five, across the 44 local government areas of the state. Dogo explained, “The aim is to add these registered children to the Kano State population…

Daud Olatunji In a significant development aimed at addressing the recurrent issue of flooding in the Isheri-Abiodun area of Ogun State, Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has stressed the need for the dredging and channelization of the Ogun River.  Governor Abiodun made this crucial proposal during a visit by the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. (Miss) Betta Edu. The governor highlighted the impact of the Oyan Dam and the role it played in contributing to the flooding problem.  He emphasized the importance of proper channelization of the Ogun River to prevent overflows, which often result in flooding, and…

Daud Olatunji A simmering leadership crisis within the Hausa community in Ibadan has escalated, as the Council of Arewa Traditional Rulers and Chiefs in the 17 southern states waded into the dispute, asserting that Alhaji Ali Zungeru, the Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, lacked the moral and constitutional authority to suspend Sarkin Sasa, Haruna Maiyasin. The feud between Zungeru and Maiyasin reached a new level when Maiyasin was purportedly suspended during a Hausawa community meeting chaired by Zungeru on Wednesday.  The suspension was allegedly due to allegations of insubordination, disrespect for the revered Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the unauthorized conferral of…