Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A land dispute has escalated into a legal and regulatory confrontation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as a property development company, K.C Bencharis Nig Ltd, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over alleged land grabbing by Baye Homes Ltd. The disputed parcel of land is located in the Kuchiyako I and II area behind Imprest Construction site, Kuje, Abuja. K.C Bencharis, through its solicitors, accused Baye Homes of trespass and unlawfully representing ownership of the land in question. In a pre-action notice dated January…

Authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service and landowners in Avu community, Imo State, have raised the alarm over what they described as a brazen land grab, calling on the government to return 38.76 hectares of land allegedly forcefully taken by suspected agents of the state. The land, originally 61 hectares allocated to the Prisons Service under the 1977 master plan of Imo State, has reportedly been encroached upon in recent weeks, with fences broken and structures demolished under the pretext of security operations. Speaking to journalists, Chief Sam Anokam, attorney representing the Correctional Service and affected allottees, condemned the action. “I…

The House of Representatives has kicked off a high-stakes investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion earmarked for agricultural interventions, raising fresh alarms over Nigeria’s food security. Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon. Bello Ka’oje, urged all ministries, development partners, and agencies involved to provide documents and full cooperation to ensure a transparent inquiry. The probe follows a motion sponsored by Ka’oje in January, directing lawmakers to scrutinise projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The aim: ensure donor-backed agricultural interventions are fully implemented and resources…

… NMA Says More Physicians Now Outside Country … Poor Welfare, Better Pay Abroad Drive Exodus Daud Olatunji The Nigeria Medical Association has revealed that more than 50,000 Nigerian-trained doctors are currently practising outside the country, intensifying concerns over worsening brain drain and its impact on the nation’s fragile healthcare system. The NMA National President, Bala Mohammed Audu, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Kalapanzi Barracks in Kakuri, Kaduna, at the weekend, where he commended the Nigerian military for its role in national security and healthcare delivery. Audu lamented that Nigeria now has more of its doctors working abroad…

…DHQ insists Nigerian forces retain full operational control Three United States military cargo aircraft have arrived in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, marking the commencement of a fresh phase of security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States amid worsening insurgency and communal violence in parts of the country. According to a report by The New York Times, the first aircraft touched down in Maiduguri on Thursday night, with additional planes arriving by Friday evening. Equipment was seen being offloaded from at least one of the aircraft. The deployment involves C-17 cargo planes transporting troops and military hardware to multiple…

African writers have been urged to embrace Artificial Intelligence as a creative partner capable of amplifying indigenous stories on the global stage. The Registrar of Chrisland University, Abeokuta, Mr Samuel Omotoso, gave the charge while delivering a lecture titled “Publishing: Traditional Vs Artificial Intelligence Revolution” at the February meeting of the Association of Nigerian Authors, Ogun State Chapter. The event held at the Simeon Adebo Library, Abeokuta. Omotoso challenged African writers to move beyond scepticism and instead train Artificial Intelligence tools by deliberately feeding them cultural, historical and socio-political nuances that reflect African realities. According to him, such intentional engagement…

The Federal Government has warned Nigerians against falling prey to recruitment schemes luring citizens to participate in foreign armed conflicts under the guise of lucrative job offers and migration opportunities. In a statement issued on Sunday by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, the government expressed concern over reports that some Nigerians were being deceived into signing up for military engagements abroad. The ministry disclosed that recruiters were using false promises of high-paying jobs, security positions, educational opportunities and fast-tracked migration to entice unsuspecting victims. According to the statement, some of those recruited were allegedly…

The Nigerian military on Sunday dismissed reports alleging that United States military aircraft recently delivered arms and ammunition to parts of the country, describing the claims as false and misleading. The rebuttal followed viral social media posts which referenced a publication by The New York Times alleging that three US military planes landed in Nigeria between Thursday and Friday, with at least one aircraft said to have offloaded ammunition and equipment in Maiduguri, Borno State. The report quoted a US Department of Defence official as saying, “These initial flights are the vanguard of what will be a stream of C-17…

Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, has said he left the Labour Party after being informed that the Independent National Electoral Commission would not recognise the party’s leadership as long as he remained a member. Obi, who was the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, made the disclosure on Sunday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during the OBIDIENT Conference and official declaration for the African Democratic Congress. Speaking at the event themed, “Activating the PO Effect in ADC,” the former governor alleged that there were moves to exclude him from future ballots. “Democracy must work. I left…

Says He Was Asked For Cash ‘At Least 10 Times’ During Visit An Australian author based in the United States, Mark Pollard, has sparked reactions online after alleging that he was repeatedly asked to pay cash while travelling through Nigerian airports and road checkpoints. Pollard, who shared his experience in a video posted on his social media pages on Sunday, described Nigeria’s security procedures as excessive and, in some cases, bordering on extortion. According to him, officials demanded money from him multiple times during his trip. “Nigerian friends, is your entire country set up to shake people down? Because coming…