February 2021 – Platformsafrica

Bandits return to Kagara, kill Four, kidnap Chief Imam, 25 Others

February 28, 2021February 28, 2021 Aliyu Aliyu

Bandits have resumed operations in Kagara, Niger State on the same day that 42 students and other persons they kidnapped from a school in the town regained fredom. No fewer than four persons were on Saturday reportedly killed and scores kidnapped in fresh attacks on the town and adjoining villages in Rafi Local Government Area of the state. Quoting Musa Kwabe, a community leader in Kagara, the online newspaper, Premiùm Times reported that eight persons were kidnapped in Kundu and 11 others in nearby Gunna district. “He (Kwabe) said…

Why Labour Unions must support Petrol Market’s deregulation – CSOs

February 28, 2021 Dawood Rabiu

The Coalition of Nigerian Civil Society Organisations for Petroleum and Energy Security (CONCSOPES) has called on organised labour to support government’s efforts to deregulate the downstream oil and gas sector. CONCSOPES Convener, Mr Timothy Ademola, who made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Saturday, said deregulation would promote growth and development in the sector. “ It will do our nation much good if our respected labour leaders spearheading the resistance to deregulation would recognise that deregulation has largely stabilised petroleum products supply over this past year.…

BallersAwards names Mumuni Alao Sports Industry Icon of The Year + PHOTO

February 28, 2021February 28, 2021 Lukman Olasunkanmi

The *BallersAwards* has named Dr. Mumumi ALAO Industry Icon of The Year. Described as one of the greatest sports writers in Nigeria’s history, Alao, the Managing Director, Complete Sports and a foundation member of Platforms Africa, has inspired several generations of sports writers in Nigeria. Nigerian Super Eagles and Napoli striker Victor Osimeh and Super Falcons and Barcelona striker Asisat Oshoala were also awarded the baller of the year for male and baller of the year for female at the 2020 first virtual Ballers Award. The award ceremony commenced with…

Kidnapped Kagara students, others freed

February 27, 2021March 1, 2021 Aliyu Aliyu

Students, staff and family members kidnapped from Government Science Secondary School Kagara in Rafi Local Government Area of Niger State have been released, Channels Television is reporting. The award winning television station said the development was confirmed to it by a government official. According to Channels TV, the official said the abductees are on their way to Minna, the Niger State capital. According to him, the children were released from a location close to where 53 others abducted from a bus belonging to the Niger State Transport Authority were…

BREAKING: Sheikh Gumi Speaks On Zamfara Schoolgirls’ Abduction

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021 Dawood Rabiu

Popular Islamic cleric in Nigeria, Sheikh Gumi, has said that he is awaiting update from the kidnappers of female pupils abducted from the Government Girls Secondary School, Jangebe, in Talata Mafara Local Government Area of Zamfara State on Friday morning. Gumi who has been at the forefront of calls for amnesty for bandits “in the inrerest of peace,” declared that he would update the media, once he gets any update on the girls kidnapped from the school. The cleric, who has also been in the news in recent time following…

How hundreds of female pupils were kidnapped in Zamfara School Attack

February 26, 2021February 26, 2021 Aliyu Aliyu

Details have emerged on how hundreds of pupils, mostly female, of Government Secondary School (GSS) in Jangebe, Zamfara State, Northwest Nigeria, were kidnapped. Gunmen numbering over one hundred, it was gathered, stormed the school located in Talata-Mafara local government around 2 a.m on Friday to carry out the operation that lasted for more than one hour. “The sound of gunshots rented the air immediately they (bandits) arrived. The next we heard was the sound of “Wayo Allah” chorused by the panicky pupils. And, it appeared they took out time…

Oil prices hit 11-month high, trade for $67.23 per barrel

February 26, 2021 Wonuola Olujobi

Oil prices on Thursday rose for a fourth straight session to hit $67.23 per barrel, the highest levels in more than 11 months. This was underpinned by monetary easing policies and lower crude production in the United States. While this signaled a surge in revenue for Nigeria, it indicated a higher price for petroleum products in the country for the month of March. The country depends largely on proceeds from crude oil to service over 80 per cent of its budget pegged at $45 per barrel price in the…

UNILAG revises 2019/2020 academic calendar + FULL TIMETABLE

February 26, 2021 Gbenga Adeoti

The University of Lagos has revised its academic calendar for 2019/2020 session first semester. The management of the school in a timetable shared to the students, stated that online lectures commenced a week ago and editing of registered courses is to begin on March 19. The timetable: Monday, 25th January, 2021 – Online Lectures Commence Monday, 25th January – Sunday, 31st January, 2021 (1 week) – Editing of Registered Courses Friday, 19th March, 2021 (8 weeks: Extended by Two Weeks) – Online Lectures End Monday, 8th Mar. – Sunday,…

Exxon dips Oil reserves by 7.14bn bbls, most radical cut in firm’s history

February 25, 2021 Efe Wellington

Exxon slashed its oil reserves by almost a third in what is the most radical reserve revision in the company’s modern history. The supermajor reported reserves totaling 15.3 billion barrels as of the end of 2020 in a regulatory filing, cited by Bloomberg. This compared with 22.44 billion barrels a year earlier. The biggest chunk of “deleted” assets came from Canadian oil sands: Exxon removed almost all of its oil sands holdings from its books as of the end of last year. This, however, does not mean they are gone forever.…