Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency has intercepted 1,490.5kg of suspected synthetic cannabis, popularly known as Thai Loud, with an estimated street value of more than N4.4bn at the Apapa and Lekki Deep Sea ports in Lagos. The agency said the seizures represented the first known interception of illicit drugs shipped from Thailand through Nigeria’s maritime corridor, raising concerns over the emergence of a new trafficking route into the country. The NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, saying the two consignments were traced to the Port of Laem Chabang in Thailand and intercepted during separate…

Daud Olatunji A fresh layer of tension has emerged in Elere village, Ewekoro Local Government Area of Ogun State, following an attack on the residence of the village head, the Baale, Chief Adubi, by unknown assailants who reportedly opened fire and set the building ablaze. The attack occurred at night while some of the Baale’s children were asleep in the house, forcing them to flee for their lives as gunshots rang out and the attackers reportedly shouted for someone to be caught. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the Baale was not at home when the assailants stormed the village and attacked…

Former Zamfara State Governor and Senator representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari, has pledged to lead the All Progressives Congress to victory in the 2027 presidential election following his appointment as Director-General of the party’s Presidential Campaign Council. Yari made the commitment on Saturday while expressing appreciation to President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership for entrusting him with the responsibility. He said he accepted the appointment with “deep gratitude” and a strong sense of responsibility, promising to mobilise party members and engage Nigerians across the country ahead of the election. “My sincere thanks go to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and…

A United States federal judge has struck down the Trump administration’s suspension of immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries, including Nigeria, in a ruling that could provide relief to thousands of Nigerians affected by the policy. The ruling, delivered on Friday in New York by Judge Jeannette Vargas, declared the visa restriction unlawful and held that US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, exceeded his statutory authority by directing consular officers to reject immigrant visa applications principally on the basis of an applicant’s nationality. The decision comes about seven months after the US Department of State ordered consular officers…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has declared that his priority ahead of the 2027 presidential election is to deliver Rivers State and the FCT to President Bola Tinubu, rather than seek a position in the President’s campaign organisation. Wike, a former governor of Rivers State, made the declaration on Saturday while inspecting ongoing road projects in Abuja, including the Apo-Karshi Road and the 14-kilometre dualisation of the Buhari-Kubwa-Satellite Town access road. The minister said he was not interested in becoming the Director-General of Tinubu’s presidential campaign council, stressing that his political effectiveness should be measured by…

Daud Olatunji Tension has gripped Tungamaje community in the Federal Capital Territory following fresh demolitions allegedly carried out by personnel of the Nigerian Army, even as the House of Representatives has summoned military authorities and the Director of Lands at the Federal Capital Territory Administration over the controversial exercise. The latest demolition reportedly took place on Thursday, August 20, with more than 10 houses allegedly pulled down in the community. Residents said the development had heightened anxiety among homeowners, particularly those whose properties have been marked for demolition. According to community sources, the soldiers who carried out the exercise also…

Four members of the same family have reportedly died after eating amala in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, prompting the state government to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths. The family’s dog, which reportedly consumed the same food, also died, heightening concerns over possible food contamination or poisoning. However, the Kogi State Government has cautioned against drawing conclusions on the cause of the deaths, stressing that the incident is still under investigation. The state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. Fanwo said Governor Ahmed Ododo had…

Former Vice-President and presidential candidate of the African Democratic Congress, Atiku Abubakar, has challenged the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation to release any records concerning President Bola Tinubu that can legally be made public, insisting that Nigerians have a right to know the history of the man leading the country. Atiku said withholding potentially releasable information under the justification of protecting lives would be difficult for Nigerians to accept, arguing that citizens were already battling insecurity, hunger and worsening economic hardship under the Tinubu administration. He made the position known in a statement issued on Saturday by his Senior…

The Kano Emirate has introduced mandatory drug testing for prospective traditional rulers seeking to ascend thrones within the emirate. The District Head of Dambatta, Mansur Adnan, disclosed this on Saturday at a sensitisation programme on drug abuse and trafficking held at his palace in Dambatta, Kano State. Adnan said the decision was driven by the harmful consequences of drug abuse on individuals, families and society, stressing that traditional rulers must be physically and mentally fit to provide effective leadership. According to him, prospective traditional rulers are now expected to undergo drug tests before they can ascend traditional thrones under the…

Ayomide Awe Persons with disabilities across the South-West have demanded the full implementation of disability laws, increased funding and the adoption of a comprehensive national policy, warning that political exclusion of PWDs could become a major issue in the 2027 general elections. The demand was made on Saturday at the South-West Zonal Summit of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities held at Mokland Hotel, Oke-Sanari, Abeokuta, Ogun State. The summit, themed “Institutionalising Inclusion: Aligning Regional Priorities with the National Disability Agenda,” brought together JONAPWD leaders, state representatives, government officials and disability rights advocates from across the region. Participants…