Author: Platform Times Newspaper

 In preparation for the upcoming 2027 general election, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Ogun State has  sought the support of the Inter-Party Advisory Council Nigeria (IPAC) on tmthe Continuous Voters’ Registration (CVR). At the inauguration of the newly elected IPAC executive members in Ogun State, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Niyi Ijalaye, emphasized the pivotal role of IPAC in ensuring the success of elections by promoting fairness and credibility. Representing the REC, Thomas Olawiyi, Head of Department, General Administration and Procurement, highlighted that the CVR exercise aims to update the state’s voters’ register by registering new voters and…

Five people suspected to have been kidnapped while travelling from Abuja to Zamfra State have been found chained to a tree in a forest in Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State and rescued by security operatives. The spokesperson of Katsina Police Command, ASP Abubakar Aliyu confirmed the rescue of the kidnapped victims on Tuesday. According to him, the victims were rescued by a police patrol team on Monday from Katsina Forest in Kankara Local Government Area where they were chained. “The rescued victims were travelling from Abuja to Zamfara on March 9 when they were kidnapped at Kushere village…

The publisher of Desert Herald Newspaper, Tukur Mamu, has issued a stern letter to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, demanding the retraction of his designation as a ‘Terrorist Financier’. In a letter dated March 25, Mamu’s lawyer, J.J. Usman, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), gave a seven-day ultimatum for the retraction of the publication to avoid legal action. The letter highlighted Mamu’s arraignment by the Federal Government of Nigeria on terrorism-related charges, emphasizing that no court has designated him as a terrorist financier. It condemned the Nigerian Sanctions Committee’s publication profiling Mamu,…

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo, has sounded a clarion call to address the escalating wave of banditry and kidnapping sweeping the nation, attributing the surge to the dire unemployment situation.  Speaking at the 9th International Trade Exhibition & Conference on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing, and Packaging in Lagos, Obasanjo emphasized the urgent need for the government to tackle unemployment as a critical step towards restoring security and stability. In his  address, Obasanjo highlighted the nexus between unemployment and criminal activities, stressing that meaningful employment opportunities would dissuade many from resorting to banditry and kidnapping.  He underscored the importance of promoting agribusiness…

A  Chinese national, Frank Geng-Quangrong, has been condemned to death by hanging following a ruling by the Kano State High Court. The sentence comes as a consequence of Quangrong’s conviction for the murder of his girlfriend, Ummulkhulsum Buhari. During the trial, it was revealed that Quangrong and Buhari had a heated altercation, ultimately resulting in her untimely death. Quangrong, however, claimed that his actions were in self-defense, asserting that he fatally stabbed Buhari after she allegedly assaulted him by grabbing his testicles. Despite Quangrong’s plea for leniency and insistence on acting in self-defense, the court, presided over by Justice Sunusi…

In a bid to enhance the management of health information and promote the efficient utilization of data for healthcare advancement, the Ogun State government has officially launched the Health Data Governance Council (HDGC). Chaired by Dr. Tomi Coker, the Commissioner for Health, the council includes key figures such as Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan from the Ministry for Budget and Planning, Permanent Secretaries from the Ministry of Health and Hospitals Management Board (HMB), the State Statistician General, as well as representatives from the National Population Commission (NPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), among others. During the inauguration ceremony held at Oke-Mosan,…

The Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), has filed criminal charges against MTN Nigeria Communications Ltd. and four others over alleged copyright infringement. The charge with Number FHC/ABJ/CR/111/2024 filed in the Federal High Court, Abuja Division was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday. The four other defendants in the case are; Karl Toriola, the Chief Executive Officer of MTN Nigeria,  Nkeakam Abhulimen, Fun Mobile Ltd. and Yahaya Maibe. In the three-count charge, NCC alleged that the defendants, between 2010 and 2017 “offered for sale, sold and traded for business’’, infringed the musical works of an artist,…

Daud Olatunji The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that no ransom was paid for the safe release of 137 pupils kidnapped from Kuriga, Chikun Local Government Area, Kaduna State. Speaking to journalists after the Federal Executive Council meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized that the government remained steadfast in its commitment not to negotiate with kidnappers.  He reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s stance on refusing to yield to ransom demands. Idris expressed gratitude for the role played by security services in ensuring the safe return of the abducted children.…

Benue State Governor, Hyacinth Alia, has issued a resolute caution to local government (LG) chairmen within the state, accentuating the looming presence of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and advocating against financial malpractice.  Governor Alia’s stern admonition came during the commencement of a two-day workshop titled ‘Responsive Local Government Leadership for Effective Local Government Administration in Benue State.’ Governor Alia’s address underscored the imperative for accountability, integrity, and transparency among LG chairmen.  He emphasized the potential repercussions of financial mismanagement, urging chairmen to regard Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) and taxes as communal assets aimed at bolstering citizen welfare.…

In a bid to avert a potential crisis, the Independent Hajj Reporters (IHR), a prominent civil society organization (CSO), has called upon the federal and state governments to intervene by subsidizing hajj fares for Nigerian pilgrims, ensuring their participation in the upcoming 2024 pilgrimage. The urgency of the situation arose after the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced a significant increase of N1.9 million to the hajj fare, with a mere four-day window provided for payment.  This decision, following the initial approval of N4.9 million as the 2024 hajj fare, has raised concerns among intending pilgrims. Ibrahim Mohammed, the…