Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Over 70 per cent of Nigerians believe the government and the nation’s wealthy elites are deliberately misleading and exploiting citizens, a new report by the Edelman Trust Barometer has revealed. Launched in Lagos on Wednesday, the 2025 edition of the global trust survey paints a stark portrait of public perception in Nigeria, where persistent economic hardship, insecurity, and governance failures continue to erode institutional credibility. Tagged “Trust and Crisis of Grievance,” the report marks 25 years of tracking global sentiment across four key institutions—government, business, NGOs, and media. For Nigeria, the findings are sobering. “Seven in 10 Nigerians hold grievances…

The National Judicial Council has launched a probe into 18 judges in the Imo State judiciary over allegations of age falsification, in a development raising fresh concerns about integrity and transparency within Nigeria’s judicial system. The NJC, in a statement on Thursday by its Deputy Director of Information, Kemi Ogedengbe, confirmed that the allegations were being treated with utmost seriousness and were currently under review. “Allegations of this nature require detailed investigation before any action can be taken,” Ogedengbe stated. “The NJC is investigating the allegations and may take a decision by the end of the month. For now, we…

The police said operatives are working with local vigilantes and hunters to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the attackers. The Edo Police Command has confirmed the killing of one Friday Pius and the abduction of his pregnant wife and her sister by suspected kidnappers in Edo. The incident happened in the Uluoke community, Uzairue, Etsako West Local Government Area of the state. The command’s spokesperson, CSP Moses Yamu, said police operatives have been deployed to the area. According to him, the operatives are working with local vigilantes and hunters to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the attackers. “The…

The Federal Government has announced plans to clear N2tn out of the N4tn debt owed to electricity generation companies (Gencos) by the end of 2025, in a bid to stave off a potential nationwide blackout. Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known on Thursday during the sixth edition of the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing Series in Abuja. He revealed that the payment would be made through a combination of cash disbursements and promissory notes. This intervention follows a recent warning by the Gencos, operating under the Association of Power Generation Companies, threatening to shut down operations over the growing…

The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons has arrested two suspected masterminds of a cross-border human trafficking network in Abuja, recovering two victims in a raid on their residence. A statement issued by Press Officer of the agency, Vincent Adekoye on Thursday, disclosed that the  suspects, identified as Emmanuel Uzor Igwe, 32, and Ugochukwu Christian, 30, were arrested in their luxurious mansion located in Lugbe, Abuja. The residence, which also served as the gang’s operational base, was stormed by NAPTIP operatives following credible intelligence and support from sister security agencies. The victims, who were rescued during the…

A Chinese national identified as Mr Jiang has tendered an apology to Nigerians and the Nigeria Police Force after a viral video showed him handing cash to some Mobile Police (MOPOL) officers, sparking outrage and allegations of bribery. In the video, widely shared across social media platforms, a group of Nigerian police officers was seen lining up to receive N5,000 each from the Chinese delegation. The footage drew criticism from Nigerians, with many condemning the action as a clear case of inducement and unprofessional conduct. However, Mr Jiang, who led the Chinese business delegation, has clarified that the money was…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi Eighteen out of the 20 local government areas of Ogun State received a cumulative allocation of N16.39bn from the Federation Account in the first two months of 2025, a PLATFORM TIMES investigation has revealed. The data, sourced from BudgIT and reviewed by PLATFORM TIMES, covered allocations disbursed in January and February 2025. However, allocation figures for two LGAs—Odeda and Sagamu—were missing as of Thursday, April 17, leaving the analysis to just 18 councils. Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, which borders Lagos State and is one of the fastest-growing areas in Ogun, topped the list with the highest allocation of N1.49bn.…

Balqees Adeniji In just two months—January and February 2025—33 local government chairmen in Oyo State received a staggering N31.4 billion in federal allocations, an investigation by PLATFORM TIMES has revealed. According to official data obtained by the platform, the exact amount disbursed to the councils stood at N31,404,274,300.68, with varying amounts shared across the local government areas. However, the findings also show a curious development—Oluyole and Ido Local Government Areas received allocations for January only, with no record of funds disbursed in February. In January, Oluyole was allocated N174,822,755.54, while Ido received N143,015,422.11, raising questions over why these two councils…

The Minister of Power, Adedayo Adelabu, has said that approximately 150 million Nigerians now have access to adequate electricity, even as about 80 million citizens still live without reliable power. Adelabu made this disclosure on Thursday in Abuja at the 2025 Ministerial Sectoral Update Conference, where he addressed critical issues in the electricity sector alongside the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris Malagi, and other key government stakeholders. According to Adelabu, Nigeria’s progress in electricity access is largely driven by its involvement in “Mission 300,” a joint initiative of the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) aimed…

Vice President Kashim Shettima has issued a stern warning to the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Abdullahi Saleh-Usman, over alleged gross misconduct, sidelining of board members, illegal reappointments, and breach of due process. The warning, conveyed in an official letter dated March 17, 2025, and signed by the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Senator Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, cautioned Usman against running the commission like a sole administrator and flouting the provisions of the NAHCON Act. In the letter with reference number SH/OVP/DCOS/NAHCON, titled “Re-Deliberate Exclusion from the Exercise of Oversight…