Author: Platform Times Newspaper

In an extraordinary demonstration of religious harmony, Muslims and Christians in the Itesi community of Abeokuta, Ogun State, have jointly launched a N150 million fundraising campaign to remodel and expand the 80-year-old Itesi Central Mosque. The initiative, unveiled during a Turbaning Ceremony and Fundraising Appeal held on Saturday at St. Peter Claver’s Convent School, drew faith leaders, government officials, traditional representatives and community development advocates — all united behind a project hailed as a model of peaceful coexistence. Representing the Minister in Charge of Trinity Methodist Church, Itesi, Reverend Adejuwon Adeolu Joseph praised the collaboration as a remarkable deviation from…

With growing anxiety among business owners and individuals over the implementation of the new Tax Act scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, organisers of the Health and Business Conference (HBC 1.0) say the forum will provide clear, practical guidance on the sweeping fiscal changes. The conference, convened by policy advocate and entrepreneurship coach, Dr. Adeyinka Adegbite, popularly known as Omo-Baba-Tisa, is billed for Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Iwe-Iroyin Hall, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, starting at 12 noon. Adegbite said the event became necessary following reports that many business owners and individuals are already considering mass withdrawal of funds…

It is a common fact that the Tinubu led administration in Nigeria has embarked on tax reforms for tax administration efficiency. As a result, new laws including Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTA), Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Act and Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (JRBN) Act have been enacted and would be operationally effective by January 1,2026. As there are many provisions in it, this review only seeks to enlighten the public on common offences in the tax laws which may affect some taxpayers or members of public who may be involved in tax matters. And since…

…NIMC, Tax Board, NBS Among Worst-Performing MDAs …Bureaucratic Rot Hits Nigeria’s Public Sector Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s public service is facing an unprecedented crisis, as a new federal audit has revealed that 30 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are “structurally non-compliant and operationally failing.” The findings expose deep rot in institutions that are supposed to drive governance, economic growth, and investor confidence. The January–October 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Ranking, compiled by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC)  shows that more than half of federal agencies failed to meet the minimum 50% benchmark for service delivery, accountability, and digital…

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday hosted a delegation of the United States Congress in Abuja, deepening ongoing defence and intelligence consultations between both countries at a time of heightened diplomatic strain. Ribadu, who disclosed the meeting on his X handle, said the lawmakers were visiting Nigeria on a fact-finding mission following earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., where discussions centred on counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, and stabilising the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. “This morning, I received a US Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., on shared security…

’The power struggle tearing through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached a breaking point on Sunday night as the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction announced plans to install a national caretaker committee, declaring that the tenure of the current National Working Committee (NWC) expires on Tuesday, December 9. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the move—backed by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT)—is expected to be ratified at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already marred by disputes, petitions and factional walkouts. BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said the party risked drifting into paralysis if urgent steps were not taken. “Nature abhors a vacuum.…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disclosed that it played a pivotal role in thwarting an attempted coup against President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin. The coup attempt unfolded early Sunday when a faction of Beninese soldiers seized the state television station, declaring the dissolution of the government and the removal of President Talon, who has led the country since 2016. The mutineers, identifying themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), announced the suspension of the constitution and closure of all land borders and airspace. They named Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal to lead a military transition…

The Federal Government has successfully secured the release of 100 schoolchildren abducted from St. Mary’s Private Catholic Primary and Secondary School in Papiri, Agwara Local Government Area, Niger State. The tragic incident occurred on November 21, 2025, when heavily armed bandits, riding on motorbikes, stormed the school dormitories at around 2 a.m., holding 315 people—303 students and 12 teachers—hostage over a three-hour attack. In the immediate aftermath, 50 students managed to escape and were reunited with their families, leaving 265 individuals, including 253 children and all 12 teachers, in captivity. The Federal Government swiftly responded by imposing a 24-hour security…

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has announced the seizure of more than 7.6 million tramadol tablets and 76,273.4 kilograms of cannabis across multiple states in a series of coordinated operations. NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, revealed that the drugs, including popular cannabis strains such as Colorado, Loud, and Skunks, were recovered from various locations, with several suspected traffickers arrested in connection with the haul. According to Babafemi, the seizures included 3,874,000 tramadol tablets of 100mg and 225mg strength, 252.2 litres of codeine syrup, and other controlled substances. A major haul was recovered from a warehouse at Oko Market, Asaba,…

The Imo State Police Command has declared Mr. Stanley Morocco Oparaugo, owner of a mortuary and hotel in Umuhu Autonomous Community, Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area, wanted following allegations of organ harvesting at his facility. Police said a recent operation at the mortuary uncovered disjointed and unhygienically kept corpses, raising suspicions of illicit organ trade. According to the police spokesperson, Henry Okoye, the discovery suggested that the bodies had been tampered with in a manner consistent with organ harvesting. “The operation was led personally by the Commissioner of Police, Aboki Danjuma, following credible intelligence on the mortuary’s activities,” Okoye said. He…