Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Canada deported no fewer than 366 Nigerians between January and October 2025, as authorities ramped up immigration enforcement to its highest level in more than a decade, official data have revealed. Figures obtained from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) removals programme further showed that an additional 974 Nigerians are currently listed as “removal in progress” and are awaiting deportation. The statistics, last updated on November 25, 2025, placed Nigeria ninth among the top 10 countries whose nationals were removed from Canada within the period under review. Nigeria also ranked fifth among countries with the highest number of people awaiting…

A review of Kaduna State’s fiscal projections has revealed that the government plans to spend more than 70 per cent of its internally generated revenue (IGR) on debt servicing between 2025 and 2028, raising fresh concerns about the sustainability of public finances and priorities in the state. An analysis of the Kaduna State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for the four-year period shows that out of an estimated N385bn expected as IGR, about N275bn will be committed to servicing debts — representing roughly 71.4 per cent of the state’s own revenue. According to the MTEF document, the state projects IGR…

The Nigerian Army, under Operation Hadin Kai, has identified a key coordinator of a suicide bombing network linked to recent attacks and attempted attacks in the North-East, including the deadly explosion at a mosque in Maiduguri, Borno State. The Army said the suspect, Shariff Umar, also known as Yusuf, was unmasked following intelligence-led cordon-and-search operations conducted on December 31, 2025, at the Kalmari area of Maiduguri, during which 14 suspects were arrested. Confirming the development on Saturday, the Media Information Officer of Operation Hadin Kai, Lt-Col Sani Uba, said investigations revealed that Umar played a central role in recruiting, preparing…

Former Ogun State Governor and Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has commended security agencies for the successful rescue of a former member of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Maruf Musa, who was abducted by gunmen in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area. Musa was kidnapped on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, while praying at about 8pm in Ibiade community, an incident that sparked widespread anxiety across the state, particularly in Ogun East Senatorial District. In a statement issued on Thursday, Daniel expressed profound gratitude to God for Musa’s safe return after about three days in captivity, describing the…

Abedamola Joshua, uncle of former world boxing champion Anthony Joshua, has condemned what he described as the “lackadaisical attitude” of emergency services following the tragic accident that claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s friends. Speaking on the incident, Adedamola said he was distressed by the treatment of victims at the scene, including Joshua himself, who reportedly had to cross the median after the crash instead of being attended to on a stretcher. “It is shocking and unacceptable,” he said. “When someone is in such trauma, every effort must be made to minimise stress. “Joshua should have been put…

Zaynab Otiti-Obanor, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has spoken for the first time about her decision to marry the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume. Now known as Zaynab Ngohemba, she tied the knot with Akume in a private ceremony in 2024. The marriage, recently made public, has sparked widespread attention, largely due to her high-profile personal history. In a statement released on Wednesday through her media aide, David Adeoye, and published by ThisDay, Zaynab described her union with Akume as one “rooted in maturity, shared purpose and mutual understanding.” She…

Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has issued a stern warning to Nigeria’s national football team ahead of their Round of 16 clash with Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Speaking on his podcast, Oliseh stressed that the knockout stage represents a completely different challenge compared to the group phase. “We’re starting the Round of 16. What changes here now is that if you lose, you go home,” he said. The Super Eagles were the only team to win all three of their group fixtures, scoring eight goals and conceding four under the guidance of head coach…

 The people of Awka have reaffirmed the legitimacy of the recent crowning of His Imperial Majesty Obi Dr. Austin Ndigwe as Ezeuzu III, warning the Anambra State Government against attempts to discredit the traditional institution. In a statement released yesterday, leaders of the Awka community, including the Oha Awka (Council of Elders) and the Ndichie (titled men), described the selection of Obi Dr. Ndigwe as a product of “deep consultations, rituals, and affirmations that honour our heritage.” “Elements of our identity, passed down through generations, remain the sole domain of the indigenous sons and daughters of Awka. It is we…

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, has assured Nigerians that 2026 will witness consistent, accessible, and sustainable electricity supply nationwide. The assurance was given in a New Year message delivered to Nigerians and residents of Oyo State, through his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Mr Bolaji Tunji, in Abuja on Friday. Adelabu said the government’s focus this year would be on strengthening the national grid, expanding transmission infrastructure, and improving service delivery through closer collaboration with Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos). “Looking ahead, our focus remains unshakable: to deliver reliable, accessible, and sustainable electricity to power our homes, industries, and…

… Faction Withdraws From January 20 Rally, Calls For EFCC Probe …Protest Hijacked By Political Interests, Say Leaders Daud Olatunji A planned nationwide protest against Nigeria’s new Tax Reform Laws, slated for January 20, 2026, has been thrown into disarray following allegations that the leadership of the movement collected a ₦300 million bribe. The controversy has split the group into rival factions, with one wing calling for an investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). On Friday, a breakaway faction led by Mustapha Abdulahi announced its withdrawal from the protest, accusing the organisers of turning the movement into…