Author: Platform Times Newspaper

By Olalekan Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba) Whether you call it football or soccer, the sport offers more than just entertainment—it’s a rich source of life lessons for those who watch closely. Every match contains elements of strategy, perseverance, risk, failure, and triumph. Life, in many ways, mirrors football: plan your days like a manager prepares his squad; stay adaptable, just like a coach with a Plan B; and even when things don’t go as planned, never give up. Above all, like football, life rewards those who dare. As a rare type of fan—one without allegiance to any single club—I enjoy the…

… Says President has fulfilled long-standing dream of Yewa people Daud Olatunji The Eselu of Iselu Kingdom in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Oba (Dr.) Akintunde Akinyemi, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the conversion of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, to the Federal University of Technology, Ilaro (FUTI), describing it as a monumental achievement and a dream come true for the Yewa people. In an open letter of appreciation addressed to President Tinubu, Oba Akinyemi described the upgrade as a landmark decision that will forever change the educational landscape of Ogun West. “Your…

… Borno Governor Zulum Alleges Politicians, Soldiers Aid Boko Haram In a dramatic escalation of security tensions in West Africa, the Republic of Benin has shut down a key waterway connecting Ota in Ogun State, Nigeria, to southern Benin, citing fears of arms smuggling and terrorism threats. This latest move tightens an already strict border clampdown that has disrupted trade and heightened diplomatic strains between the two neighbours. The water route, long a vital artery for legal trade, facilitates the movement of agricultural produce and household goods between rural communities in southwest Nigeria and Benin. Traders and residents, who depend…

A newly formed coalition aimed at challenging President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections has adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its official political platform, according to.multiple  sources. The coalition, reportedly established in March under the leadership of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, has appointed Dr. Lukman Salihu Mohammed, former Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Northwest, to head its secretariat. It  had earlier been  reported that the coalition was considering the ADC platform and was in the process of revising the party’s constitution to accommodate incoming members. ADC National Chairman Chief Ralph Nwosu announced that…

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has disclosed that the state loses over $1bn annually in potential investments due to rampant cult-related violence. In a statement released on Wednesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor lamented that insecurity fueled by rival cult clashes had become a major obstacle to economic development in the state. “What we have witnessed in Edo was more than a threat to public peace—it was a significant drain on our economic potential,” Itua stated. He noted that the fear created by incessant cult violence has driven investors and diaspora-based Edo indigenes to channel…

The Lagos State Government has revealed that properties valued at N19.52bn were destroyed in fire incidents across the state in 2024. The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this on Wednesday during a ministerial briefing marking the second year of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term. According to Oyerinde, while 450 individuals were rescued from various fire emergencies, 91 persons were confirmed dead. However, properties worth N117.12bn were successfully salvaged during firefighting efforts. Highlighting improvements in emergency coordination and security, the commissioner announced the recruitment of 100 security personnel to boost border security and the integration…

Balqees Adeniji In a bold move to improve public health and clean up Nigeria’s streets of neglected mentally ill individuals, the Federal Government, in partnership with the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, has intensified its free medical outreach programme across Ogun Central Senatorial District. The initiative, which began in 2024, has now reached Abeokuta South Local Government Area, providing free healthcare services to over 215 residents, including pregnant women, the elderly, youths, and children. The programme, held in Abeokuta , is part of a wider federal health mission targeting the grassroots and vulnerable groups. It offers free registration, Body Mass Index…

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has defended the integrity of the Board and its staff amid backlash over the mass failure recorded during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), particularly in Lagos and the South-East. Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting involving chief external examiners, civil society groups, and representatives from tertiary institutions, Oloyede clarified that the poor performance in the affected regions stemmed from human error—not technical malfunction or ethnic sabotage as widely speculated. “What happened was a human error committed by certain individuals. It does not…

In a surprising political development, the three senators elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State have publicly declared their support for President Bola Tinubu’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 presidential poll. The senators—Kamarudeen Oyewumi (Osun West), Olubiyi Ajagunla (Osun Central), and Francis Fadahunsi (Osun East)—made the endorsement known through a joint statement on Wednesday, following a closed-door meeting held on Tuesday. The lawmakers cited President Tinubu’s record on governance, economic reforms, and infrastructure development as key reasons for their backing. They also praised the current administration for what they described as visible improvements…

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Zulum, has raised concerns over the growing technological sophistication of insurgents operating in Nigeria’s North-East, warning that the Nigerian military is increasingly disadvantaged due to lack of adequate equipment. Speaking during an interview on One-on-One with Zulum, a News Central TV programme, the governor revealed that insurgents are now deploying advanced technology to combat Nigerian troops, placing additional strain on the military’s limited capabilities. “The Army doesn’t have the necessary equipment on ground to fight the insurgents,” Zulum stated. “Right now, the insurgents are using technology to fight the soldiers on ground.” He disclosed that…