Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, has resigned from the Federal Executive Council to pursue his governorship ambition in Bauchi State ahead of the 2027 general elections. His resignation was confirmed on Monday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa. It was gathered that Tuggar submitted his resignation letter to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu shortly after noon, formally stepping down from the cabinet. Findings indicated that the former minister is set to contest the Bauchi State governorship election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress. Tuggar’s exit is coming barely days before the…

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has warned that pandemics now pose grave threats not only to public health but also to economic stability and national security worldwide. Pate issued the warning on Monday in Abuja at a high-level public health symposium themed, “Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Insights from China and Nigeria.” He cautioned that infectious disease outbreaks, if not swiftly contained, could escalate into epidemics and eventually global pandemics, stressing that the world must brace for future occurrences. “It is not a matter of if, but when,” the minister said, noting that…

… Nigeria’s 18.5m Out-Of-School Children Crisis Worsens …. Analysts Warn Of Security, Poverty Fallout Daud Olatunji Imo, Ogun and Rivers states have emerged as the worst offenders among 21 states and the Federal Capital Territory that failed to access a combined ₦97.88bn in basic education funds, deepening Nigeria’s worsening out-of-school crisis. Findings by PLATFORM TIMES showed that the funds, allocated under the Universal Basic Education Commission intervention scheme, remain unutilised largely due to the inability of state governments to provide the required counterpart funding. An analysis of official records obtained through a Freedom of Information request by a legal team…

Civil society organisations have raised fresh concerns over the non-utilisation of millions of dollars recovered from former public officials, warning that delays in deploying the funds could erode public trust in Nigeria’s anti-corruption drive. The groups said about $50 million linked to former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke, and $954,000 recovered from former Bayelsa State governor, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, remain largely unaccounted for in terms of impact, despite being repatriated for specific development projects. The concerns were raised at a two-day town hall meeting on asset recovery and utilisation, where the Executive Director of the African Network for Economic and…

The Delta State Government has banned the Ozoro fertility festival following allegations of sexual assault on female participants, describing the incident as “barbaric and unacceptable.” The ban comes amid outrage over the account of a 300-level student of Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Miss Ezeugo Ijeoma Rosemary, who alleged that she was stripped naked and molested by a mob during the event. Recounting her ordeal, the student said the incident occurred on Thursday evening near her school when she unknowingly walked into activities linked to the festival. “I came down from a bike and suddenly boys started shouting, ‘Hold her, hold…

—New Two-Tier Policing Model Shifts Local Crimes To States —Federal Police To Handle Terrorism, Interstate Offences … States To Contribute Minimum 15% To Security Financing The Federal Government has moved to overhaul Nigeria’s policing structure with a proposal that would assign homicide, armed robbery, domestic violence and other local offences to state police commands, while a federal outfit focuses on terrorism and interstate crimes. The framework, submitted to the Senate by the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Rilwan Disu, outlines a two-tier policing system designed to decentralise security operations and improve responsiveness to crime across the country. Under the proposed…

The lingering crisis within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) took a fresh turn on Sunday as a faction aligned with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, re-elected Abdulrahman Mohammed as its National Chairman. The development came during a factional national convention held in Abuja, where Abdulrahman—who hails from Nasarawa State—was returned as chairman by consensus alongside 20 other members of the National Working Committee (NWC). Abdulrahman had previously served as Acting National Chairman of the faction’s caretaker committee before his re-election, signalling what party insiders described as a consolidation of the group’s leadership structure amid widening internal…

The Rivers State Government has told the High Court sitting in Port Harcourt that over N302 billion was expended during the six-month administration of former sole administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd.), between March and August 2025. The disclosure was contained in a counter-affidavit filed before the court in response to a Freedom of Information suit instituted by the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project. The suit, marked PHC/4153/CS/2025, is seeking full disclosure of how public funds were spent during the period of emergency rule in the state. The government, through the Accountant-General’s office and the Ministry of Budget and…

A pastor, Dozie Ezani, has been arrested in Anambra State for allegedly raping and impregnating a 16-year-old girl, in a case that has sparked outrage in the community. Ezani, identified as the General Overseer of a church in Amichi, Nnewi South LocalGovernment Area, is currently being held at the State Criminal Investigation Department following his arrest by operatives of astate-backed vigilante group. The suspect was reportedly apprehended at his poultry farm in Igboukwu, Aguata Local Government Area, after security operatives acted on intelligence over his alleged illici trelationship with the minor. Spokesperson for the vigilante group, Karen James, disclosed that…

The Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said Nigerians may push for a constitutional amendment to allow President Bola Tinubu to remain in office beyond the constitutionally permitted two terms. Akanbi made the remark in a statement issued on Sunday to commemorate Tinubu’s 74th birthday, describing the President as a decisive leader whose policies have begun to reposition the country’s economy. According to the monarch, growing public confidence in Tinubu’s leadership could trigger calls for a review of the constitution to extend his tenure. “Many Nigerians may call for a constitutional review to enable Tinubu to serve more than two…