Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Prominent personalities including the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and former governors of the state, Chief Olusegun Osoba and Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Monday paid glowing tributes to the late industrialist and educationist, Chief Olatunde Abudu, who was laid to rest at the age of 96. The dignitaries gathered in Abeokuta, the state capital, for the 8th-day Fidau prayer held in honour of the Mayegun of Egbaland, who passed away on June 9, 2025. Represented by his deputy, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Governor Abiodun described Chief Abudu as a towering figure in Nigeria’s private sector and a passionate advocate of…

The Minority Leader of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Hon. Lukman Adeleye, has blamed the underwhelming performance of the state legislature on what he described as executive interference and the continued absence of financial and administrative autonomy for state assemblies. Adeleye, who represents Odogbolu State Constituency, made the remarks during a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, on Monday. He said although the Assembly has shown commitment to oversight and accountability, its efforts remain limited by the grip of the executive arm. “The performance of the Ogun Assembly is at best 60 percent, not because we are…

Daud Olatunji  As Nigeria joins the rest of Africa to commemorate the 2025 Day of the African Child, UNICEF and other key stakeholders have called for more deliberate and equitable budgeting practices to protect and promote children’s rights across the country. Speaking at a media dialogue on public spending for children’s rights held in Lagos, Social Policy Specialist with UNICEF, Muhammed Okorie, stressed that while Nigeria has shown commendable commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to children, actual implementation and spending remain inadequate. “States are at different levels of commitment and implementation,” Okorie noted. “Although many have integrated…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has strongly condemned the ongoing spate of killings in Benue State and other parts of Nigeria, describing the violence as “senseless, alarming and a threat to the country’s public health system.” In a statement issued by its President, Dr. Osundara Tope, the association lamented the massacre of over 200 persons in Yelwata, Benue State, and warned of an impending humanitarian crisis if the bloodshed continues unchecked. “The continued killings in Benue and across the country are not only tragic but are also pushing our already fragile health system to the brink,” the statement…

The United States may soon impose fresh travel restrictions on Nigeria and 35 other countries following a new directive being considered by President Donald Trump’s administration. This development emerged over the weekend through a memo from the U.S. State Department, dated Saturday, June 14, and signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The document, which was dispatched to U.S. embassies globally, outlines concerns over what the Trump administration terms “security risks and immigration non-compliance” associated with the listed countries. According to the memo, affected nations, including Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, Ethiopia, and 21 other African states, have been given a 60-day…

Ado Aleru, a notorious bandit kingpin declared wanted by the Nigerian Police since 2020, has resurfaced — not in handcuffs, but at a government-endorsed peace meeting held in Bichi community, Danmusa Local Government Area of Katsina State. Aleru, with a N5 million bounty still hanging on his head, appeared in a now-viral video addressing government officials, traditional rulers, and security operatives. The event, reportedly attended by Nigerian Army personnel and other state actors, was aimed at fostering dialogue between Fulani herders and farmers in the conflict-ridden region. The bandit leader, whose group has been linked to several killings and kidnappings…

A group of traditional masqueraders have reportedly invaded a mosque and the residence of the Chief Imam in Oke Agbe, Akoko North Local Government Area of Ondo State, assaulting his wives and children in a violent attack that has drawn sharp condemnation from the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC). The incident, which occurred on Thursday, June 12, 2025, saw scores of masquerade adherents storm the Islamic cleric’s home, beating up his family members without provocation, according to a statement issued by MURIC on Sunday, June 15. Executive Director of the Islamic human rights group, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the attack as…

Tears and devastation have gripped Yelwata, a community in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State, following a brutal overnight attack by suspected herdsmen that has left scores dead and homes in ruins. Eyewitnesses said that the coordinated assault, which occurred late Friday night through the early hours of Saturday, claimed over 100 lives, with some houses recording mass casualties. In one home alone, 40 corpses were recovered, while another family lost 15 members, according to local accounts. “This is not just an attack; it’s a massacre,” said a grieving resident in a viral video. “We were inside because it…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the deployment of 4,000 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tankers for the nationwide distribution of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and diesel, beginning August 15, 2025. The initiative, described as a game-changer by industry observers, will enable the refinery to supply fuel directly to petrol stations, manufacturers, telecommunications firms, aviation companies, and other large-scale users across the country—with free logistics support. In a statement issued on Sunday and made available to PLATFORM TIMES , the company said the initiative would cut out traditional logistics costs, reduce energy expenses, and promote cleaner fuel usage. It also aligns…

Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) have arrested a Nigerian man based in Italy, Edobor Ambrose Ali, for attempting to smuggle over 14,000 pills of tramadol concealed in winter jackets through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, Lagos. Ali, who claimed to be a resident of Milan, was intercepted on Saturday, June 14, by NDLEA officers in collaboration with Aviation Security personnel of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) as he tried to board an Air France flight to Italy. Spokesperson for the NDLEA, Femi Babafemi, in a statement issued on Sunday, said the suspect’s…