Author: Platform Times Newspaper

…29 States Rely Heavily On Federal Transfers …Borrowing Rises Despite Record FAAC Inflows Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have ramped up borrowing, pushing their combined domestic debt to ₦4 trillion as of September 2025, even as federal allocations to the subnational governments continue to rise sharply Data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) shows that the states’ debt profile, which had declined from ₦5.8 trillion in December 2023 to ₦3.8 trillion in March 2025, has now rebounded—raising concerns about renewed fiscal strain across the federation. The development highlights a growing paradox: despite a…

As political realignments gather momentum ahead of the 2027 general elections, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), Ogun State chapter, has renewed its call for what it described as a “historic shift” in the political balance of the Southwest, urging the emergence of Muslim governors across the region. The group, an Islamic human rights organisation, said the current political structure in which all sitting governors in the Southwest are Christians amounts to a form of imbalance that must be corrected in the interest of fairness and inclusion. In a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by its State Chairman, Ustaadh Tajudeen…

By Maryam Ogunremi  All my life, I have been close to older generations and I grew up around them. From my grandparents to my mother, neighbours – back when I was staying with my mother in a face-to-face apartment – to people living in our area along Aiyetoro road in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. And through them, I have learnt a lot of Yoruba sayings and some general sayings that have enriched my life. Though, there are a few that I really don’t agree with and the one at the centre of this article is one of those. Don’t…

Experts have warned that poor financial data management poses a serious threat to institutional growth, urging organisations to adopt ethical standards, precision, and technology-driven systems to remain competitive and effective. The warning was issued at a high-level workshop held at Babcock University, where stakeholders highlighted the critical role of data in shaping sound decisions and sustaining organisational performance in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. The workshop, themed “Managing Financial Data as a Strategic Organisational Resource: The Role of Data Management Systems in Modern Organisations,” was organised by the university’s Departments of Information and Resource Management, and Finance. Speaking at the…

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has accused the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) of bias after the electoral body suspended recognition of all factions within the party, deepening the ongoing leadership crisis rocking the opposition party. The party, in a statement on Wednesday by its interim National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, rejected INEC’s interpretation of the Court of Appeal ruling on the dispute, alleging that the commission had yielded to political pressure. Abdullahi claimed that INEC’s decision was influenced by what he described as a “government jittery over the rising momentum of the opposition,” insisting that the move was aimed…

Former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has intensified consultations with key political figures as he pushes for opposition unity ahead of the 2027 general elections, declaring that it is time to restore good governance and national stability. Atiku, who visited former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, in Kano on Wednesday, said the meeting was part of efforts to strengthen the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and reposition it as a viable platform for national recovery. In a statement shared on his X handle, Atiku described Kwankwaso as a “brother and partner,” noting that their discussions centred on the progress of the party and…

…Females dominate new infections across key age groups …Experts push targeted interventions as disparities widen Nigeria has recorded a sharp decline in new HIV infections nationwide, but fresh data has identified Lagos State and Benue State as persistent hotspots, with health experts warning that uneven progress could undermine recent gains. The latest figures released on Wednesday by the National Data Repository showed that while the country is making significant strides in controlling the virus, new infections remain disproportionately concentrated in a few states and among vulnerable populations, particularly young women. According to the report, Nigeria is nearing the global 95-95-95…

The management of Seat of Wisdom Secondary School, Aliade, Benue State, has expelled 11 students over their involvement in a violent altercation that led to the stripping of a female student, as captured in a viral video that sparked outrage nationwide. The disturbing footage, which circulated widely on social media, showed the victim being overpowered and stripped by fellow students in school uniform during a fight, while others cheered, mocked her and recorded the incident. Findings by PLATFORM TIMES revealed that the incident, which occurred about a week ago, did not take place within the school premises but in a…

Children and wives of military officers detained over an alleged coup plot on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly in Abuja, demanding either the immediate release of their loved ones or their prompt arraignment in court. The demonstrators, many of them minors, carried placards with inscriptions such as “Release Our Daddies,” “Don’t Kill Our Fathers,” and “Six Months of Detention Without Trial is Injustice,” as they decried the prolonged detention of the officers. The affected personnel were reportedly arrested in October 2025 over alleged involvement in a coup plot and breaches of military regulations. However, their families…

No fewer than 30 students and a teacher have been hospitalised following a suspected gas leak at Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the incident occurred shortly after the school’s morning assembly on Wednesday, triggering panic among students and staff as an unidentified gaseous substance reportedly spread across the premises. Eyewitness accounts indicated that several students began to experience breathing difficulties, while others reportedly collapsed after inhaling the substance, prompting an emergency response. The affected students and the teacher were subsequently rushed to the General Hospital, Ijebu Ode, for urgent medical…