Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, has revealed that the recent strike action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) cost the country over 200,000 barrels of crude oil per day and disrupted gas supply and power generation nationwide. Ojulari disclosed this on Sunday night after briefing President Bola Tinubu at his Lagos residence on the impact of the strike and ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector. According to him, the industrial action, which affected critical facilities, forced a temporary shutdown of power generation…

Tension has enveloped Orisunmibare community in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State after a quarry blast by Sequoia Mining Company Limited allegedly killed a 25-year-old man, Abiodun Alarape. The incident, which occurred two Saturdays ago at Akilapa area beside Rochas School along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, has triggered outrage and mass protests by residents who accused the Chinese-owned company of negligence and reckless operations. Eyewitnesses said Alarape, who worked at a nearby factory, was struck by flying rocks from the blast and died instantly. Enraged residents stormed the quarry on Monday, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Stop the killing,”…

Former Minister of Interior and National Secretary of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Rauf Aregbesola, has called for a radical overhaul of Nigeria’s electoral leadership selection process. He insisted  that political parties with at least five lawmakers in the National Assembly should be allowed to nominate candidates for the position of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) chairman. Aregbesola, who made the suggestion on Monday in Abuja at a panel session themed “Innovation in Electoral Technology 2015–2025”, argued that the credibility of Nigeria’s electoral system cannot be guaranteed unless reforms begin with how the commission’s leadership is appointed. According to him,…

A lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, has filed a suit before the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop former President Goodluck Jonathan from contesting the 2027 presidential election. In the suit, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/2102/2025, Jideobi asked the court to grant an order of perpetual injunction restraining Jonathan from presenting himself to any political party for nomination as its presidential candidate in 2027 or in any future election. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) are also listed as second and third defendants in the suit. The plaintiff is further seeking an order barring INEC from…

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday faulted the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) for embarking on a nationwide strike over what he described as a “minor labour dispute,” warning that such actions threaten Nigeria’s fragile economy. Shettima, who spoke at the 31st Nigerian Economic Summit (NES) in Abuja, said it was unnecessary for the oil workers’ union to “hold the whole nation to ransom” following the dismissal of some Nigerian staff by Dangote Refinery. PENGASSAN had on September 28 declared an indefinite strike to protest the sackings but later suspended the action on October 1…

A Chinese power generation company, CCETC, has announced plans to establish a power plant and an industrial park in Ogun State, in what is being described as a major boost to the state’s industrialisation drive. Chairman of the company, Mr. Guo Xianda, disclosed this at the weekend during a strategic meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun and top government officials at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. Xianda revealed that the firm would install a 3MW power plant at the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, Iperu-Ilishan, free of charge, to accelerate economic activities at the facility and its environs. The development follows Governor…

The Muslim Congress (TMC) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to introduce comprehensive measures to cushion the harsh effects of his administration’s economic reforms on ordinary Nigerians, warning that the biting hardship is pushing many citizens into deeper vulnerability. The faith-based organisation also urged the President to urgently intervene in the brewing crisis between the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) and the Dangote Refinery over unionisation of workers, stressing that the dispute could snowball into a national economic crisis if not swiftly resolved. Speaking in Abeokuta on Saturday during the 18th Annual Lecture of…

The Dangote Refinery has applauded the Nigerian judiciary for what it described as its courage and fairness in upholding the rule of law amid recent disputes, while also reiterating its commitment to employee welfare and national development. In a statement issued at the weekend, the management of the refinery said it remained resolute in building a workplace culture that rewards performance, protects workers’ dignity, and ensures a safe environment. “Through continuous training, mentorship and professional development, we create visible pathways for growth, thereby empowering our employees to advance into leadership roles and build long-term, fulfilling careers,” the company said. The…

Daud Olatunji The deaths of two students of Ilugun High School, Elega, Abeokuta, Ogun State, allegedly chased into a river by Amotekun operatives, have ripped the veil off the rot in the state’s public schools—an ugly mix of indiscipline, sex, drugs, extortion, and heavy-handed policing. The victims—19-year-old SS1 student, Ayomide Babalola, and a physically challenged female student, identified simply as Esther—had left their parents’ homes for school on that fateful day. Hours later, they were found drowned in a river near the school, allegedly while fleeing operatives of the Amotekun Corps invited by the school authorities. “He never missed school”…

The Nigerian Army on Sunday dismissed reports that bandits overran troops in Obanla, Kwara State, carting away heavy weapons and ammunition, insisting that its operational bases remain intact. An online platform had reported that the armed group, which has been linked to recent killings in Kogi State, allegedly seized at least six General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs) and over 30,000 rounds of ammunition from soldiers during an ambush in Kwara last month. Quoting a senior military source, the report claimed the weapons haul boosted the capacity of the bandits now terrorising communities in Yagba West Local Government Area of Kogi,…