Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Zainab Abioye An advocacy group, She Leads Advocates, has ramped up calls for female deputy governors across Nigeria to be given priority consideration for governorship positions ahead of the 2027 general elections, arguing that they possess the experience and capacity to lead. The group maintained that women serving as deputy governors have acquired critical governance exposure, institutional knowledge and leadership skills required to take over from incumbent governors, having played key roles in policy formulation and implementation in their respective states. The renewed advocacy comes amid increasing visibility of female political actors within major parties, particularly the All Progressives Congress,…

Fawaz Adebisi D.S. Adegbenro ICT Polytechnic, Itori-Ewekoro, Ogun State, on Thursday celebrated the institution’s 20th anniversary of academic operations, matriculating 2,400 fresh students for the 2025/2026 academic session. As gathered during rhe ceremony, held at the polytechnic’s Mass Communication Complex, 1,300 National Diploma, ND, and 1,100 Higher National Diploma, HND, students were admitted across the Schools of Engineering and Sciences, Management Sciences, Communication and Information Technology, and Environmental Studies. Describing the occasion as a milestone, the Rector, Prof. Adegoke Akeem Rauf, said the 20th matriculation represented more than an academic ritual. In his words, this occasion marks not just another…

The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) has unveiled a groundbreaking telecoms identity risk management system (TIRMS) designed to curb fraud linked to mobile numbers and enhance digital security across financial and service sectors. At a stakeholders’ forum in Abuja, NCC Executive Vice Chairman Aminu Maida said the platform would offer a unified framework to manage risks arising from the misuse of mobile numbers, which have become crucial identifiers for financial transactions, online services, and digital verification. Maida explained that vulnerabilities caused by recycled, swapped, or fraudulently used SIM cards had become a major avenue for financial crimes and identity theft. “The…

The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, threatening to embark on an industrial action if the newly approved salary structure for university lecturers is not implemented within four days. ASUU President, Christopher Piwuna, disclosed the ultimatum on Thursday while delivering a public lecture in Bauchi State. He noted that the agreement, reached in December 2025, was supposed to take effect from January 2026 but has yet to be enforced. “We have issued a four-day ultimatum from today to the Federal Government to commence payment of the newly approved salary structure. Failure…

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has raised concerns over internal divisions within the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), warning that unchecked egos, competing ambitions, and external interference could undermine the party’s cohesion ahead of the 2027 general elections. In an exclusive interview  on Thursday, Saraki highlighted the unique challenges of managing an opposition party, noting that unlike ruling parties, opposition politics lacks a centralized command structure, making consensus-building more complex and demanding compromises from all stakeholders “In a ruling party, decision-making tends to follow a command-and-control structure. But in an opposition party, there is no clear superiority. It requires negotiation, patience,…

…Comment Triggers Nationwide Backlash …DHQ Says Stance Aligns With Global Best Practices …Experts Warn Stance May Embolden Insurgency Daud Olatunji The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Olufemi Oluyede, on Thursday sparked nationwide debate after asserting that terrorists operating in Nigeria should be rehabilitated rather than killed, stressing the need to give insurgents a chance to repent. Oluyede made the remarks at the inaugural lecture of the Joint Doctrine and Warfare Centre at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre, Abuja, defending the Federal Government’s deradicalisation initiative, Operation SAFE CORRIDOR. He likened insurgents to the biblical prodigal son, arguing that denying them…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has launched an investigation into Babajide Sanwo-Olu following the tracing of part of a controversial $13 million to contractors linked to the Lagos State Government. Findings  revealed that investigators are scrutinising financial transactions involving associates of socialite and businesswoman Aisha Achimugu, whose firm was at the centre of the funds forfeited to the Federal Government. The development comes as the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Wednesday, ordered the final forfeiture of the $13 million after ruling that the funds were proceeds of unlawful activities. Funds traced to Lagos contractors Sources familiar with the…

The Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, has formally presented a comprehensive framework for the establishment of state police to the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, in a move seen as a major push towards decentralising Nigeria’s policing architecture. The proposal, contained in a 75-page document titled “A Comprehensive Framework for the Establishment, Governance and Coordination of Federal and State Police,” was submitted at the National Assembly, Abuja, on Thursday. The report was delivered on behalf of the IGP by the Chairman of the Nigeria Police Force committee on state police, Olu Ogunsakin, who led the team mandated…

The Kano State Hisbah Board has arrested 22 persons, including a hotel manager, over alleged immoral activities in Kumbotso Local Government Area. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the suspects were apprehended during a raid on Stephrica Guest Palace located at Kureken Sani area of the council on Wednesday following intelligence reports. Confirming the development on Thursday, the Deputy Commandant of the board, Mujahid Aminudeen, disclosed that the suspects comprised 10 males and 11 females. He said the operation was carried out after the board received credible information from residents alleging that the individuals had converged on the hotel for activities considered…

A Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of a factional National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kabiru Turaki, over his failure to appear for arraignment in a criminal case instituted by the Nigeria Police Force. The trial judge, Justice U.P. Kekemeke, issued the bench warrant on Thursday, ruling that the former minister had no valid reason to be absent from court despite being duly summoned. Turaki is facing a one-count charge filed by the Nigeria Police Force on the directive of the Inspector-General of Police, accusing him of allegedly providing false information in a…