Author: Farida Usman

A Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP of Police Mobile Force, PMF, Abubakar Muhammad Guri is dead. PLATINUM POST gathered that Guri slumped and died shortly after he entered his office at the Louis Edet House Force Headquarters, Abuja, on Monday. A source at the FHQ told our correspondent that the late DCP, in his uniform, slumped on his seat in his office. “Some officers around rushed him to hospital and even before reaching there, he already died. “We are now arranging for his burial whether here in Abuja or his hometown. “He is a good man. He might have…

The police command in Bauchi says four people were killed and one injured in a rainstorm that ravaged the Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida (IBB) square on Saturday. In a statement on Sunday, Ahmed Wakil, the police spokesperson in Bauchi, said the IBB square hosted the just concluded north-east trade fair. Wakil said the storm damaged the Gombe, and Yobe state pavilions and several business tents within the trade fair complex. “Following the incident, emergency response teams, led by the police and other security agencies, swiftly initiated search and rescue operations,” the statement reads. “Tragically, five individuals were found under the…

The Governor of Kano State, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, is poised to declare a state of emergency in the education sector, aiming to expedite efforts to enhance the delivery of educational services and ensure to quality education for all in Kano. This was contained in a statement issued by the Governor’s spokesperson, Sanusi Bature Dawakin Tofa, on Sunday. The Governor, who is set to declare the state of emergency on Tuesday, has said that it is in fulfillment of one of his crucial campaign promises outlined in his document titled “My Commitment for Kano,” which was formulated and presented…

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has challenged the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) not loose guard of any attempt by intending pilgrims to smuggle prohibited items to Saudi Arabia. Besides the Hajj commission insisted the enforcement agencies at the air border terminals should arrest pilgrims in possession of unwanted items or substance. Chairman of the Commission Mal. Ahmad Jalal Arabi gave the instruction at the pick of pilgrims outbound operation for 2024 hajj believed apprehending such unwholesome attempt will safe country needless embarrassment and unnecessary delays during screening in both countries. A statement by Fatima Sanda…

Kano State police command has vowed to deal ruthlessly any element found violating order of the government banning all form of protest in the ancient city. Besides, the command disclosed that armed security personnel have been deployed to strategic locations in the state to forestall break down of law and order in the state. The police spokesperson, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa in a statement on Wednesday said the command is prepared to enforce compliance to government directive. In the statement “the police command in Kano State will ensure the State Government Order that ban all forms of protests is…

A train from Kaduna heading for Abuja has derailed at Jere, Kaduna, an hour after commencing its journey on Sunday. The train which had dozens of passengers on board departed Kaduna around 8:05 am. Three carriages were reported to have skidded off the tracks. Security personnel, including the Nigeria Police and Army, were present at the site to provide support. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, (NSIB) while confirming the incident revealed some of its personnel had been dispatched to investigate. ”NSIB is aware of a derailment of an Abuja-bound train from Kaduna which occurred halfway into the journey at…

The Office of the National Security Adviser (NSA) has denied claims that the NSA, Nuhu Ribadu, facilitated the return of the dethroned Emir of Kano, Aminu Ado Bayero, to the ancient city on Saturday. The spokesperson for the office of the NSA, Zakari Mijinyawa, described the claims as false. Mijinyawa, who spoke in Abuja, was reacting to the state Deputy Governor, Aminu Gwarzo, who had accused the NSA of facilitating the return of the dethroned emir. Earlier the deputy governor said the law was clear on the process for the coronation of an emir and that “nobody has any…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has shut down on a private rice factory in Niger State over unhygienic practice. Speaking during a routine inspection of facilities in Niger State, the Director, North-Central Zone of NAFDAC, Shaba Mohammed, pointed out that though the facility was registered with the agency, the production environment was unhygienic and without good manufacturing practice. “The rice processing facility has been sealed and given compliance directives for not complying with the instant regulations for which they were given to produce and certification. The place is unhygienic and they are not doing…

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar says he will run for the presidency of Nigeria in the 2027 election despite the challenges his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is currently facing. Atiku has ran to become Nigeria’s President for six times within three decades, his most recent attempt being in the 2023 presidential election as the PDP candidate. At his last attempt, the 77-year-old got 6,984,520 votes to come second in the poll won by Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who garnered 8,794,726. When asked whether he would try again, Atiku told Voice of America Hausa:…

A former Minister of Aviation, Hadi Sirika; his brother, Ahmad Sirika; and a firm, Enginos Nigeria Limited, have been arraigned on a fresh ten-count charge before Justice Suleman Belgore of the the FCT High Court sitting in Garki, Abuja In the new charge, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission accused Sirika, his brother, and Enginos of a N19.4 billion airport contract fraud. At the reading of the charge to the defendants, they all pleaded not guilty. Details later

Meeting on the ongoing negotiations on new minimum wage has been adjourned till Wednesday after the organised labour rejected the new N54,000 minimum wage proposal by the Federal Government, a highly reliable source who attended the meeting told our correspondent on Wednesday. The PUNCH had exclusively reported that the Federal Government upped its offer from its earlier proposed N48,000 to N54,000. Tuesday’s meeting came as a result of the walkout staged by members of the organised labour following the proposal of N48,000 as minimum wage by the Federal Government during last week’s meeting. During that meeting, the OPS had…

Several people have been trapped as a one-storey building collapsed in Minna, the Niger State capital. Emergency officials who raced to the scene on Friday succeeded in rescuing seven persons who are receiving treatment at the Minna General Hospital. The building is located at the popular New Market Area in Minna, the capital of the North-Central State. At the time of filing this report, the manual evacuation of the debris has commenced, and the authorities said machines would be mobilised quickly so that those suspected to be trapped could be rescued. The immediate cause of the building collapse is…

The Chief Judge, Kano state, Justice Dije Abdu Aboki, has transferred the alleged corruption case involving the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, and seven others to another court. The former Governor, Dr. Ganduje, his wife Dr. Hafsat Umar, and six others have been dragged before Justice Usman Na’abba of the State High Court for alleged misappropriation of public funds. The criminal proceedings being prosecuted by Kano State Public Complaints and Anti-Corruption Commission is still at the infant stage, considering argument and counter reaction over service of charges. Incidentally, the matter that was scheduled…

The Niger State Council of Imams has given the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy- Ohannaya, a one-week ultimatum to withdraw her comments condemning the plan by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, to sponsor the mass weddings of 100 girls of marriage age in his constituency, who are either orphans or their parents are too poor to fund their weddings. The Secretary of the Imam Council in the state, Umar Abdullahi, made this known at a press conference on Wednesday, where he warned the minister not to overstep her bounds. Abdullahi said the…

Time is running out for Abdullahi Ganduje as national chairman of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), according to sources within the party, a reliable source confirmed. Governors elected on the platform of the party are said to have resolved to persuade President Bola Tinubu to sacrifice the former governor of Kano State and allow a replacement from any of the states in the North Central zone of the country. The governors are said to have found a replacement- a Christian from Nasarawa State, that they intend to sell to the president. Although the sources did not disclose any…

Chairman of National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) Malam Jalal Ahmed Arabi has inspected Flynas aircraft, a Saudi Arabia carrier designed to airlift the first set of Nigeria pilgrims for 2024 Hajj exercise. The foreign airline along side two Nigeria based carriers, Air peace and Max Air are the three selected airlines designed to transport over 65,000 conventional intending pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The modern vessel 436 seats wide body aircraft had landed at the Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport (SABIA) in Birnin Kebbi at exactly 10:39pm on Tuesday, ready to transport pilgrims embarking on the…

Senator representing Kano Central, Sen. Rufai Sani Hanga has finally broken silence over stiffer condemnation on his purchase and donation of shrouds and items for burial to his constituency. Senator Hanga who strongly defended his decision to donate clay pots and textile materials for bury insisted he has no regret over the development. Hanga, who represents Kano Central at the National Assembly, told newsmen in Kano on Monday that he had no regrets whatsoever for embarking on the initiative. The Senator who explained that he carried out the special constituency project based on request wondered why such noble action…

The Tikau Emirate Council in Yobe State has announced the passing of its Emir, Muhammadu Abubakar Ibn Grema. The traditional ruler passed away on Friday, May 10, 2024, at the age of 73. He died after a brief illness at Specialists Hospital in the Potiskum area of the North-East state. A former Deputy Governor of the state and the current Madakin Tikau, Aliyu Saleh- Bagare, announced the demise of the emir in a statement. The late Muhammadu Abubakar Ibn Grema was appointed as the Emir of Tikau on May 25, 2001 as one of the 14 prominent Emirs of…

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Zamfara State, Tukur Danfulani, has been sacked by the ward executive of the party in Galadima, Gusau Local Government Area of the state. The ward executive led by its deputy chairman, Garba Bello, and fifteen others on Saturday sacked the state chairman for alleged lack of good leadership, and discrimination against party members who violate the laws of the APC. He was also accused of diverting the activities of the party to some people who were not the leaders of the APC in Zamfara State. Speaking with the journalists in…

Tijani Babangida, former Super Eagles forward, was involved in a car accident on Thursday that tragically claimed the life of his younger brother, Ibrahim Babangida. Babangida was part of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic team that won the gold medal and is currently the President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria. Former teammate, Emmanuel Babayaro, the General Secretary, PFAN, announced the incident in a statement. “Comrades! Let us be in prayers for our president, Tijani Babangida, who just had a ghastly motor accident along the Kaduna-Zaria Eoad,” Babayaro said. “Ibrahim Babangida, his younger brother, died on the spot from…