Author: Platform Times Newspaper

..Ranked 36th Globally Despite Slight Drop In Overall Score … Corruption Continues To Cripple Public Services, Infrastructure Daud Olatunji Nigeria has once again been ranked among the world’s most corrupt countries, according to the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI). The country occupies the 36th most corrupt position globally, maintaining the same ranking as in 2024 despite sliding in overall score. The latest CPI, which evaluates 182 countries on perceived public-sector corruption, placed Nigeria alongside Cameroon, Guatemala, Guinea, Kyrgyzstan, and Papua New Guinea, each scoring 26 points on a scale where 0 represents extreme corruption and…

The Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Fawehinmi, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof. Simon Malang Kawe, and other senior university officials are facing scrutiny over allegations of diverting multibillion-naira loans intended for indigent students under the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND). An investigation by PLATFORM TIMES has revealed that hundreds of students, approved for NELFUND support, were forced to find alternative ways to pay their tuition because the university allegedly withheld funds already disbursed by the federal scheme. Sources said the withheld funds were reportedly parked in interest-yielding accounts by the university management, delaying their release to…

The Senate has insisted it will not succumb to pressure or intimidation over its decision to amend the Electoral Act to allow the electronic transmission of election results, saying the move reflects democratic debate rather than legislative weakness. The Senate spokesperson, Yemi Adaramodu, stated this on Tuesday during an interview on Politics Today on Channels Television, following public reactions to the red chamber’s amendment of Section 60 of the Electoral Act. The amendment empowers presiding officers at polling units to transmit results electronically to the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) Results Viewing Portal (IREV), a development that has triggered sharp…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced a new personal policy restricting photo sessions with random individuals, following the circulation of a viral documentary in which his photograph appeared alongside a suspected fraudster accused of defrauding a Romanian woman of $2.5 million. Egbetokun disclosed this at a recent public event, explaining that criminals increasingly exploit photographs with public figures to gain credibility and shield illicit activities. “I would want to apologise to those distinguished individuals whose photo opportunities I have declined. This decision is not driven by pride but by caution at a time when photo opportunities granted at…

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said the old Port Harcourt Refinery is about 90 per cent rehabilitated and technically ready to resume operations within one week, pending a final decision by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). PENGASSAN President, Mr Festus Osifo, disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying the plant could be switched on immediately from a technical standpoint. “As of today, you can start the old Port Harcourt refinery and it will function. You can put it on today and it will work,”…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned that Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and 33 other states will experience an abnormal and extended rainy season this year, alongside episodes of heavy rainfall, prolonged dry spells and above-average temperatures across the country. In its latest Seasonal Climate Prediction, NiMet said most parts of Nigeria would record normal annual rainfall compared to long-term averages, but stressed that rainfall patterns would be uneven, with some states facing excessive downpours and others battling below-normal precipitation. The agency forecast above-normal rainfall in Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Enugu, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom states and the Federal Capital…

The Federal Government has lifted the controversial “No Work, No Pay” directive imposed on members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and approved the immediate payment of their January 2026 salaries following the suspension of the union’s 84-day nationwide strike. The decision was reached after a successful conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and JOHESU, which led the union to direct its members across the country to resume duties in the interest of patients, health system stability and national public health security. In a statement issued on Monday by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations at the…

A Lagos State Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of a man, Kayode Samuel Jolaoso, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for 10 days after he was caught secretly recording UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, during court proceedings. Jolaoso, said to be a loyalist of the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, was found guilty of contempt of court after his actions were discovered inside the courtroom. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Badejo had earlier been granted bail in the sum of ₦10m with a surety acceptable to the court following her recent detention…

Fawaz Adebisi The Nigerian Senate today approved amendments to the Electoral Act, mandating the electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV. The decision, which comes after days of public outcry and protests, includes a provision for manual collation as a fallback in cases of technical failures, such as network disruptions. The amended Clause 60(3) requires presiding officers at each polling unit to electronically transmit results after Form EC8A has been completed, signed, and stamped by INEC officials and party agents where available. However, if electronic transmission is hindered by communication…

The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Shaykh (Engr.) Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Abou Nolla, has said Muslims in Lagos State will commence and end this year’s Ramadan fasting strictly in line with the official declaration of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. In a video message monitored in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief Imam urged Muslims to remain patient and await the Sultan’s announcement on the sighting of the new moon, describing the directive as binding and essential for unity among the faithful. “As we did it in previous years,…