Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, has announced plans to graduate 5,808 students, including 147 First Class degree holders, at its 35th Convocation Ceremonies for the 2024/2025 academic session. The week-long ceremonies will hold at the university’s main campus in Ago-Iwoye from Thursday, January 22 to Saturday, January 31, 2026, with the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ayodeji Johnson Agboola, presiding over the events. Activities will commence on Thursday, January 22, with a press conference at the University Senate Chamber, followed by an undergraduate graduating class meeting with the Vice-Chancellor. Other highlights lined up include a health walk for staff and students, a special…

The Ogun State chapter of the Labour Party (LP) has condemned the ongoing electronic membership registration being conducted by the All Progressives Congress (APC), describing it as a deceptive political exercise aimed at masking what it called the failure of the Dapo Abiodun administration. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ogun LP Chairman, Chief Oluwabukola Soyoye, said the APC’s statewide e-registration was “a digital scam designed to mislead the public into believing that the ruling party still enjoys popular support in Ogun State.” Soyoye alleged that contrary to the APC’s claim that the exercise was a routine membership registration…

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has arrested a Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) tanker driver who allegedly struck and killed a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger along Epe–Ijebu Road in Epe, Lagos. The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, confirmed the incident, which occurred at Pokia Junction, inward Araga, during a statement on Wednesday. Preliminary investigations revealed that the motorcyclist, carrying a male passenger, was riding against traffic on a prohibited one-way route when the tanker, reportedly speeding, collided with them. Both victims died instantly. “This is a clear violation of traffic laws,” Giwa said.…

The Federal Government has dismissed concerns over alleged alterations to Nigeria’s newly passed tax laws, insisting that the few changes made will not affect key provisions, including tax rates, filing deadlines, and the overall tax burden. Taiwo Oyedele, Chairman of the Presidential Tax Reform Committee, made this clarification on Wednesday in Lagos while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Economic Outlook organized by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) as part of its 60th anniversary celebrations. “The issue of alterations is overstated. There are a few items that shouldn’t affect the main elements of the law—nothing about…

Lagos residents are facing mounting health challenges as the strike by health workers under the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) enters its second month, crippling public hospitals and forcing patients to seek costly alternatives. Since the strike began on December 3, 2025, services across Lagos State’s primary, secondary, and tertiary hospitals have been severely disrupted. Visits by PLATFORM TIMES to major public hospitals on Tuesday revealed closed departments, overcrowded waiting areas, and overstretched medical staff struggling to cope with the influx of patients. While doctors and nurses remain on duty in emergency and clinical units, the withdrawal of non-clinical staff—including…

..Defence minister says Sympathy For Bandits Fuels Bloodshed … Warns Clerics, Influencers Against Moral Cover For Criminals Daud Olatunji  The Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru Musa, has warned Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmed Gumi, and other perceived sympathisers of terrorists and bandits to desist from offering any form of support—direct or indirect—to criminal groups threatening Nigeria’s security. Musa issued the warning on Wednesday during an official visit to Maiduguri, Borno State, where he said narratives that excuse or justify terrorism and banditry have continued to fuel insecurity across the country. He stressed that criminal activities must never be cloaked in ethnic,…

The Edo State Police Command has arrested a 34-year-old tyre repairer, Idris Isiaka, for allegedly staging his own abduction in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of the state, and extorting millions of naira as ransom from his family. Isiaka, popularly known as a vulcaniser, was arrested after police investigations revealed that the purported kidnapping, reported to have occurred on Saturday, January 10, 2026, in Emaudo Community, was allegedly orchestrated by the suspect in collaboration with two accomplices. The Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday, saying the suspect deliberately spread news of…

The Anambra State Police Command has arrested a masquerade accused of unleashing violent, unprovoked attacks on residents of Awgbu community in Orumba North Local Government Area, following a viral video that sparked widespread outrage. The suspect was apprehended after footage circulated online showing the masquerade chasing passers-by, attacking motorcyclists and disrupting a public event, thereby throwing the community into panic. The incident occurred during the Ofala festival held in honour of the late traditional ruler of Awgbu, Igwe M. C. Okechukwu (Ezedioramma II, Ezekanunu III), over the weekend. Video clips captured the masquerade forcefully pushing riders off motorcycles, pursuing residents…

The United States government has announced the suspension of immigrant visa processing for Nigeria and 74 other countries, marking a fresh escalation in President Donald Trump’s hardline immigration policy. The decision, announced on Wednesday by the US State Department, affects a total of 75 countries and is aimed at what the Trump administration described as efforts to prevent abuse of America’s immigration and welfare systems. State Department spokesman, Tommy Pigott, said the suspension would remain in place while Washington reviews its immigration procedures. “The Trump administration is bringing an end to the abuse of America’s immigration system by those who…

The Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities have signed a new agreement aimed at ending decades of industrial unrest and repositioning Nigeria’s public universities for stability, competitiveness and improved quality delivery. The pact, signed and unveiled on Wednesday at the Tertiary Education Trust Fund Conference Hall, Maitama, Abuja, formally replaces the controversial 2009 agreement that triggered repeated strikes and prolonged disruptions of academic calendars across federal universities. The ceremony was attended by key stakeholders, including the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa; Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmad; Minister of Labour and Employment, Mohammed Dingyadi;…