Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The combined domestic debt of Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory rose by N94.79bn within three months, climbing from N3.87tn in the first quarter of 2025 to N3.96tn in the second quarter, latest figures from the Debt Management Office have shown. The increase represents a 2.45 per cent rise quarter-on-quarter, although the states’ total domestic debt was still 7.1 per cent lower than the N4.27tn recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. An analysis of sub-national debt profiles released by the DMO indicated that the overall debt burden of states has followed a largely downward trajectory since 2023,…

A pastor of the Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, has been abducted by suspected bandits while travelling to his farm in Okoro Gbedde, Ijumu Local Government Area of Kogi State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the cleric was kidnapped on Saturday along the Okeoffin–Okoro Gbedde axis while riding on a commercial motorcycle to his farmland. Eyewitnesses said the pastor and the commercial rider were suddenly intercepted by armed men suspected to be bandits during the journey. A source familiar with the incident disclosed that on sighting the assailants, the pastor reportedly jumped off the motorcycle in an attempt…

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, has firmly dismissed reports claiming that he has withdrawn from the 2027 presidential race in favour of former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, describing the claims as false and misleading. Atiku, who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, was alleged in some online reports to have stepped aside for Obi, the Labour Party’s flagbearer in the last election, as part of a purported agreement to support a one-term presidency in the interest of regional balance. However, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Mr Paul Ibe, debunked the report, saying it did…

Former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday escalated his war of words with Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, by releasing documents he claimed show that the latter received N50bn from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu following the January 2024 Ibadan explosion. Fayose alleged that the funds, approved as emergency intervention after the deadly blast, were largely diverted, insisting that only N4.5bn was disbursed to victims of the incident. The former governor made the allegation in a statement he personally signed, a copy of which was made available to PLATFORM TIMES, saying the documents were released to allow…

Pandemonium broke out in parts of Benin City, Edo State capital, on Sunday after suspected thugs allegedly attacked and stripped naked the Chief Executive Officer of Hosamudia Farm, Don Pedro Obaseki, a cousin of former governor, Godwin Obaseki. The incident, which has since sparked outrage on social media, occurred at Uwa Primary School, where the victim was said to have gone to play football with friends. A viral video seen by PLATFORM TIMES showed the visibly shaken businessman being assaulted and stripped by a group of young men, while passers-by watched in shock. The attackers were heard accusing him of…

… 438 Killed ,300 Communication Devices Seized  …366 Civilians Rescued From Militant-Controlled Areas Daud Olatunji The Nigerian military says it has killed 438 Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) fighters in the last seven months amid intensified operations in Borno State. Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Theatre Commander of the Operation Hadin Kai (OPHK), disclosed this on Saturday in Maiduguri, stating that the figures cover counter-terrorism operations conducted between May and December 2025. According to Abubakar, troops also recovered 254 assorted weapons and seized 300 Starlink communication devices from insurgents. In addition, 366 civilians were rescued from territories…

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria’s 36 state governors and the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Nyesom Wike, over their alleged failure to account for ₦14 trillion in fuel subsidy savings. The suit, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, under file number FHC/L/MSC/1424/2025, seeks comprehensive disclosures on how the funds, received via the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations, were spent. SERAP is demanding details on executed projects, their completion status, and the locations where the funds were deployed. According to SERAP, despite the substantial FAAC allocations following…

In a timely move following a PLATFORM TIMES report on the silence of some state governments over end-of-year payouts, workers in Ogun State have received their annual end-of-year bonus. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  payment, approved by Governor Dapo Abiodun, underscores the administration’s commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of public servants across the state. The State Head of Service, Mr. Kehinde Onasanya,  in a statement on Sunday, said the bonus, now a regular feature of the administration, is designed to appreciate workers for their dedication throughout the year and to acknowledge their contributions to the successful implementation of the…

FAWAZ Adebisi The Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria (MSSN), B-Zone, has recorded unprecedented participation at its 115th Islamic Vacation Course (IVC), with over 10,000 delegates registering in just three days. The programme, hosted at the proposed permanent site of Al-Ummah University along the Ibadan–Lagos Expressway in Onigari, Ogun State, brought together youths from across southern Nigeria for spiritual development, leadership training, and civic engagement. The Chief Registrar of the IVC, Mallam Abdulrazak Yusuf, disclosed that a total of 10,158 participants were registered across Edo, Delta, and Rivers states, describing the turnout as one of the highest in recent editions. Female…

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, has confirmed his marriage to Zynab Otiti Obanor, describing the union as a strictly private matter that has no bearing on his public responsibilities or political career. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the marriage was solemnised some time ago but deliberately kept away from public attention, in line with Akume’s long-held preference for privacy in personal affairs. A senior aide to the SGF, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the decision to keep the marriage out of the public space was consistent with Akume’s character and leadership style.…