Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A United States-based physician and board-certified paediatrician, Bolaji Odusina, has joined the African Democratic Congress as she declared her intention to contest the 2027 Ogun State governorship election. Odusina, who recently concluded consultations on her political future, formally announced her decision in Abeokuta on Saturday, expressing readiness to challenge the ruling All Progressives Congress in what she described as a contest driven by ideas and credibility rather than political influence. The governorship hopeful said although the APC remains dominant in the state and is home to influential figures, she was optimistic that “underdogs” could still emerge victorious. “I am fully…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency have uncovered a major drug trafficking operation involving cocaine concealed in dried fish heads, popularly known as “okporoko,” in a coordinated crackdown spanning multiple states. The agency disclosed on Sunday that the illicit consignment, weighing 5.80 kilograms, was intercepted by its Murtala Muhammed International Airport Strategic Command following credible intelligence on trans-border criminal activities. According to the NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, the seizure was made during a sting operation in the Ojo area of Lagos on March 19, 2026. Babafemi said operatives arrested a suspected drug kingpin, Akputa…

Senator Iyabo Obasanjo, a governorship aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, on Sunday congratulated Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his 74th birthday, commending his administration’s efforts at improving infrastructure across the country. In a statement, Obasanjo described the President as a “courageous and visionary leader,” whose policies, particularly in the area of infrastructure, are beginning to yield tangible results. She noted that ongoing construction, rehabilitation and expansion of federal roads under Tinubu’s administration had significantly impacted Ogun State, enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities. According to her, the renewed focus on critical road infrastructure has…

The push for increased female participation in Nigeria’s political space intensified on Friday as the Deputy Governor of Ogun State, Noimot Salako-Oyedele, and other female deputy governors called on the All Progressives Congress (APC) to back the emergence of women as governors ahead of the 2027 general elections. The call came under the platform of the Female Deputy Governors Forum, which urged the ruling party to adopt a deliberate framework that would guarantee at least 35 per cent representation for women in elective and appointive positions across the country. The delegation, led by Salako-Oyedele, met with the APC National Chairman,…

Former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir Ahmad El-Rufai, has reportedly spent his period in detention engaging in religious devotion and intellectual activities, according to a close associate. The associate, Bashir Garba Sufyan, disclosed on his X handle that the former governor completed the Holy Qur’an, observed fasting throughout his stay in custody, and also read about 10 books, while writing some works during the period. “Alhamdulillah, Mallam is home with his family, friends and associates. The first thing he told us was that, since his detention, he had been fasting until yesterday,” Sufyan wrote. “He also completed the Holy Qur’an while…

Tension has gripped Ekeowe community in Southern ljaw Local Government Area ofBayelsa State following the death of a 47-year-old man, Emi Sigah, who was allegedly flogged to death over accusations of raping a 10-year-old girl. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident,which occurred on March 25, has sparkedprotests and heightened security presence inthe riverine community. Residents alleged that Sigah attacked the minor in a bush while she was returning froma farm with her aunt. In response, the community leadership, in accordance with local custom,  ordered a penalty of 120 lashes consisting of 10 strokes from each of the villagers. It was…

Armed gunmen have invaded a government-owned health facility in Akure, abducting three health workers, stripping them naked and draining their bank accounts in a brazen early morning attack. One of the victims, Omolabake Kayode, who survived the ordeal, told journalists on Saturday that the attackers stormed the Comprehensive Primary Health Centre in Oke Ijebu around 2am, throwing the facility into panic. Kayode said the assailants arrived in a bus, forcefully entered the premises and dragged her alongside two colleagues into the vehicle, while other workers on duty fled for safety. “They came in a bus and barged into the centre.…

The Oyo State Police Command has launched an investigation into the death of a teenage boy at the swimming pool of the University of Ibadan, with early findings suggesting possible foul play. The yet-to-be-identified victim, believed to be between 14 and 15 years old, was reportedly found floating in the pool under unclear circumstances, triggering panic within the university community. Witnesses said the incident was discovered when bystanders noticed the boy’s lifeless body in the pool and promptly alerted authorities, leading to the swift arrival of police operatives at the scene. Preliminary observations by investigators indicated signs of violence, raising…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Saturday defended the worsening economic hardship in Nigeria, attributing the situation partly to global geopolitical tensions, including the conflict involving the United States, Iran and Israel. Speaking at the 4th Elective National Convention of the All Progressives Congress held at Eagle Square, Abuja, the President said the current difficulties faced by Nigerians were “necessary sacrifices” required to secure long-term economic stability and growth. Tinubu, whose administration has faced mounting criticism over rising inflation, high cost of living and insecurity, maintained that his economic reforms were already producing positive results. “The sacrifices of today are laying…

Nigeria is grappling with a fresh wave of Lassa fever outbreak that has claimed no fewer than 146 lives within three months, while at least 25 doctors and dozens of other health workers have been infected, raising fresh concerns over the country’s fragile healthcare system. Data obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention showed that as of the 11th epidemiological week of 2026, the country recorded 582 confirmed cases out of 3,222 suspected infections. A state-by-state breakdown of fatalities revealed that Taraba recorded the highest number of deaths with 40, followed by Ondo with 31, Bauchi with…