Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Academic and non-academic staff of Ondo State-owned tertiary institutions have issued a 14-day ultimatum to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, demanding immediate inclusion in the state’s implementation of the 2024 National Minimum Wage structure. The aggrieved workers, under the umbrella of the Joint Action Committee (JAC), on Monday accused the state government of deliberately excluding them from the new wage regime already being enjoyed by their counterparts in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). In a strongly worded letter addressed to Governor Aiyedatiwa, the protesting unions vowed to shut down academic activities in all state-owned tertiary institutions if their demands are not met…

The Saudi Arabian authorities have denied claims circulating on social media suggesting that it had imposed visa restrictions on Nigeria and 13 other countries, describing the report as false and unofficial. The rebuttal comes after a viral memo alleged that Saudi Arabia would, from April 13, 2025, suspend the issuance of new short-term visas — including business and visitor visas — to citizens of 14 countries. The memo also claimed that even individuals with valid visas would be barred from entering the Kingdom. Countries listed in the purported restriction include Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Bangladesh,…

The Presidency on Monday refuted widespread rumours claiming that the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has been removed from office. A viral message circulated across WhatsApp platforms earlier in the day alleged that President Bola Tinubu had sacked Yakubu and appointe Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan as his replacement. The unverified message, which lacked attribution, stated, “INEC Chairman Prof. Mahmud Yakubu has been replaced with Prof. Bashiru Olamilekan by President Tinubu.” Reacting to the claim, the Senior Special Adviser to the President on Digital and New Media, O’tega Ogra, described the report as fake news and…

In a strategic move to bolster international cooperation against illicit drug trafficking, Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing operational collaboration in narcotics control. The agreement, which marks a significant milestone in bilateral relations between both nations, was signed in Riyadh by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Narcotics Control (GDNC). Speaking at the signing ceremony, the NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd.), described the pact as long overdue, noting that it builds on nearly two decades of informal collaboration between…

Tensions have escalated within the Labour Party ahead of a proposed National Executive Committee meeting convened by former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and Abia State Governor, Alex Otti, as the party’s National Chairman, Julius Abure, issued a stern warning on Monday, declaring unequivocally that there is “no vacancy” in the party’s leadership structure. Addressing a press conference at the party’s national secretariat, Abure lashed out at Obi and Otti, branding their actions as acts of betrayal and internal sabotage. He maintained that his chairmanship remains valid and grounded in the party’s constitutional framework, stressing that no faction or external pressure…

A mysterious thunderstrike on Sunday killed no fewer than eight cows in the Ori-Ohin community of Ifon, Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, sparking fresh concerns over continued violations of the state’s anti-open grazing law by suspected Fulani herders. Eyewitnesses and community leaders attributed the incident to alleged spiritual retaliation following the repeated invasion of farmlands by herders, despite multiple warnings and state legislation prohibiting open grazing. A viral video circulating online on Monday showed the lifeless bodies of the cows scattered across a farmland believed to have been desecrated. Community sources claimed the land had been leased to…

The Association of Nigerian Broadcasters (ANBROAD) has paid glowing tributes to two eminent Nigerians—former Oyo State Governor, Dr. Omololu Olunloyo, and prominent politician, Alhaji Yekeen Sherif Adeojo—who recently passed away, describing their deaths as monumental losses to the nation. Dr. Olunloyo, a distinguished mathematician, engineer, technocrat, and revered public servant, died on April 6, 2025, just days before his 90th birthday. ANBROAD described him as a towering figure whose lifetime of contributions to academia, governance, and national development left indelible marks. In a condolence message signed by the association’s National Secretary General, Dr. Sola Gbayisomore, and released by its Corporate…

Balqees Adeniji As part of his continued effort to uplift residents amid rising economic challenges, the Okanlomo of Igbehin and founder of the Toyin Amuzu Foundation, Chief Toyin Amuzu, has distributed 100 Point of Sales (POS) machines, startup capital, business kiosks, and registration certificates to small business owners in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State. The initiative, which aims to promote financial inclusion and entrepreneurship, was widely applauded by beneficiaries and community stakeholders, who described it as a timely intervention in the face of Nigeria’s economic realities. The Youth Leader of the PDP in the state, Oyejide Sunkanmi…

Daud Olatunji A real estate firm, Obatob Properties Limited, has threatened legal action against the Ogun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), over what it described as a defamatory press conference that allegedly tarnished its corporate image. The demand was contained in a letter dated April 4, 2025, and issued by Palmstars Solicitors on behalf of Obatob Properties. The letter referenced the Attorney General’s widely reported press conference of April 3, 2025, during which the company was allegedly portrayed as fraudulent and accused of colluding with land grabbers. In the media briefing, which received prominent…

The Federal Government has declared a nationwide “bridge emergency” and is set to deploy robotic machines to inspect underwater portions of bridges across Nigeria, in a decisive move to enhance infrastructure safety and reduce maintenance costs. Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made the disclosure on Sunday during a stakeholders’ meeting on Section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. Umahi said the Federal Government had concluded plans to acquire high-tech robotic diving machines to replace the current method of hiring human divers for underwater assessments, which he described as “unsustainable and expensive.” “We are going to locate a robotic…