Author: Platform Times Newspaper

By: Folorunso Fatai Adisa (Published in the Punch Newspaper on Friday, 17 April, 2026). When the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria and the Congress for Progressive Change produced the All Progressives Congress, it carried with it a rare national expectation. For many Nigerians, weary of the long and often turbulent years under the Peoples Democratic Party, the emergence of a new political coalition felt like the opening of a different chapter. The mantra of “Change” was not just an ordinary slogan but a psychological contract with the people. It suggested renewal, redirection, and a break from the habits…

The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, has commenced the electronic processing of academic documents with the introduction of its MAPOLY Integrated Central System. The institution said the initiative, which aligns with global best practices, is designed to simplify and fast-track administrative procedures for students and graduates. The digital platform, known as MAPOLY Integrated Central System, serves as a one-stop portal for academic services, aimed at eliminating bottlenecks associated with the manual processing and collection of documents. According to the management, the platform—developed under the framework of Sorting Peculiar Educational Administrative Knots Seamlessly—represents a major step towards repositioning the polytechnic and improving…

The Apex Leadership of the All Progressives Congress in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State has adopted a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, as its consensus candidate for the House of Representatives. The decision followed a closed-door meeting involving key stakeholders and aspirants vying for the ticket, in what party leaders described as a strategic move to foster unity and strengthen the party’s chances ahead of the elections. The meeting, presided over by the Chairman of the Apex Leaders, Chief Joju Fadairo, had in attendance prominent figures within the party, including Chief…

Shareholders of Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc have approved a N500bn Rights Issue aimed at strengthening the company’s capital base and accelerating its strategic expansion projects, particularly its backward integration programme. The approval was given at the company’s 20th Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday in Lagos, where investors also commended the management for its resilience and improved performance amid a challenging macroeconomic environment. According to the shareholders, the capital raise would significantly support the company’s long-term growth plans and reduce reliance on imported raw materials through enhanced local production capacity. Chairman of Dangote Sugar, Mr. Arnold Ekpe, told shareholders…

…Seeks End To Stalled Infrastructure Across Regions …Warns Against Abandoned Projects, Overlapping Mandates The Federal Government has directed regional development commissions across the country to halt the initiation of new projects until ongoing ones are completed, in a fresh move aimed at addressing stalled infrastructure, duplication of efforts and institutional rivalry. The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, issued the directive on Thursday in Benin, Edo State, at a two-day sectoral retreat involving the leadership of the ministry, boards and management of the seven regional development commissions, as well as members of the National Assembly. The retreat, themed “Fresh…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has raised concerns over a possible cholera outbreak in 10 states, citing imminent flooding and rising infection trends across the country. The affected states include Adamawa, Enugu, Kaduna, Kogi, Niger, Osun, Oyo, Plateau, Taraba and Kwara. In a statement issued on Thursday, the agency linked the warning to flood forecasts by the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, which projected heavy rainfall in the listed states between April 13 and April 17. The NCDC said recent surveillance data already indicated a surge in cholera cases in several high-risk areas, warning that…

The Federal Government has said it has no immediate plans to approach the International Monetary Fund for financial support, despite Nigeria’s rising debt profile and growing global economic uncertainties. Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this on Thursday during a ministerial press briefing at the ongoing IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings in Washington, D.C. His position comes barely 24 hours after the Debt Management Office announced that Nigeria’s total public debt surged by N14tn to N159.27tn as of the end of the fourth quarter of 2025, intensifying concerns over the country’s fiscal sustainability. Edun, however,…

The Ogun State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Sagamu has adjourned the trial of Adeniyi Mobolaji, the driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the fatal road crash linked to former heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, to June 2, 2026. Magistrate Olufunmilayo Somefun granted the adjournment following an application by the prosecution counsel, G.O. Ogunyomi, to enable the filing of a fresh charge in the matter. The defence counsel did not oppose the request. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this is the third time the case has been adjourned for the same reason. Mobolaji is facing a four-count charge bordering on dangerous…

A video showing a female candidate removing her hijab before sitting for the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination in Ibadan, Oyo State, has triggered widespread concern and debate over alleged infringement on religious rights. The footage, which surfaced on social media platform X on Thursday, was reportedly recorded at Esther Oshikoya Computer-Based Test Centre along Sango-Eleyele Road in Ibadan. In the clip, the candidate is seen taking off her hijab before proceeding into the examination premises. However, the exact circumstances surrounding the incident remain unclear. A user, Alfa Shehu, who shared the video, alleged that candidates wearing hijabs were compelled…

A pro-Goodluck Jonathan group, the Goodluck Jonathan Legacy Project, has faulted former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over his recent claim that the ex-president’s administration was “inexperienced,” describing the comment as inaccurate and politically motivated. The group, through its National Coordinator, Juan Amechee Governor, said in a statement on Thursday that Atiku lacked the moral standing to assess Jonathan’s leadership record, insisting that the former president’s political trajectory reflected substantial experience before assuming office. The group said, “To describe Dr. Jonathan as ‘inexperienced’ is a flight from reality. Before becoming president, he served as deputy governor, governor, vice president and acting…