Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Amid renewed xenophobic violence in South Africa, the Nigerian Consulate in Johannesburg, in collaboration with the Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa, has commenced arrangements to evacuate willing Nigerians, offering free repatriation flights to those opting to return home permanently. The development follows a surge in anti-foreigner protests across major cities, including Pretoria, Johannesburg, Durban, and parts of KwaZulu-Natal, where foreign nationals—particularly Nigerians—have reportedly been subjected to harassment, looting, and violent attacks. President of NICASA, Frank Onyekwelu, confirmed the evacuation initiative in an interview, noting that many Nigerians had already indicated interest in returning due to the worsening security situation.…

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State have endorsed Senator Sharafadeen Alli as the party’s consensus candidate for the 2027 governorship election, in a move aimed at fostering unity ahead of the poll. The decision was reached on Friday during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held in Ibadan, the state capital, attended by prominent party chieftains and political figures. Among those present were former senator Ayo Adeseun, former Oyo APC chairman Akin Oke, Director of the South West Development Commission, Fatai Ibikunle, and former Secretary to the State Government, Akin Olajide. Speaking after the meeting, Adeseun said the endorsement…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Thursday said his administration is treating insecurity and poverty as national emergencies, warning that the twin challenges pose grave threats to livelihoods, productivity and national stability. Tinubu, who spoke through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, at the 2026 Workers’ Day celebration held at Eagle Square, said the government had prioritised urgent interventions under its Renewed Hope Agenda to tackle the crises. He stressed that decent work cannot thrive in an atmosphere of fear and economic hardship, noting that insecurity and poor wages continue to disrupt economic activities across farms, factories…

The Nigerian Defence Academy has distanced itself from widely circulated social media reports detailing disciplinary actions against some of its cadets, describing the публикаtions as unauthorised and misleading. The academy said the viral posts, which outlined sanctions imposed on cadets over alleged offences, did not emanate from its official channels and should be disregarded by the public. In a statement issued on Friday by its Public Relations Officer, Reuben Kovangiya, the NDA explained that the disciplinary measures followed its routine Commandant’s Orders held at its headquarters in Kaduna. According to the statement, Commandant’s Orders remain an established administrative process in…

The Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to adopt a uniform retirement policy of 65 years of age or 35 years of service for all civil servants, warning that existing disparities are undermining efficiency in the public sector. President of the union, Festus Osifo, made the call on Friday during the 2026 May Day celebration in Abuja, where he criticised the current retirement structure as discriminatory and counter-productive to national development. Osifo said the variation in retirement policies across sectors within the civil service had created inequity and weakened institutional capacity. He said, “The current disparities…

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, has called for increased inclusion of women in governance and national development, warning that their exclusion continues to weaken Nigeria’s moral and economic foundations. Showunmi made the call while delivering a presentation at an event marking the 10th anniversary of the College of Health Sciences and technology and  the birthday celebration of Rev. Mrs Kemi Ishola, where he was also honoured with the National Health Builder Award. In his address, Showunmi argued that conversations around nation-building must go beyond traditional priorities such as security, infrastructure and fiscal policy…

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State, Oladipupo Adebutu, has formally declared his intention to contest the state’s top seat again in the 2027 general elections. Adebutu conveyed his decision in a letter dated April 30, 2026, addressed to the Ogun State leadership of the PDP and routed through the party chairman in Odogbolu Local Government. The letter, made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Friday by his media aide, Afolabi Orekoya, stated that the former candidate had informed party structures at both state and local levels of his renewed ambition. Adebutu, in the correspondence, thanked…

Nigeria will expend a staggering ₦15.81 trillion on servicing public debt in the 2026 fiscal year, underscoring mounting fiscal pressures in the country’s record ₦68.32 trillion budget. The spending plan, recently approved by the National Assembly and signed into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, allocates a significant portion of total expenditure to debt obligations, raising fresh concerns over the sustainability of the nation’s public finances. Analysis by civic tech organisation BudgIT revealed that debt servicing ranks among the largest expenditure components, nearly rivaling allocations for capital and recurrent spending. A breakdown of the budget shows that ₦32.29 trillion is…

The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party deepened on Thursday as the party’s Board of Trustees, led by former Senate President, Adolphus Wabara, formally assumed control of its national leadership following a damning Supreme Court judgment that nullified its last national convention. The apex court, in a split 3-2 decision, invalidated the PDP convention held in Ibadan, Oyo State, in November 2025, which produced the Tanimu Turaki-led National Working Committee backed by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde. In a statement issued in Abuja, Wabara said the BoT’s takeover was in line with Section 32(5) of the party’s constitution, aimed at…

Abeokuta-based transport operator, Akmode Transport Limited, has raised the alarm over an alleged plot by rival commercial motorcycle unions and suspected hoodlums to attack its personnel and disrupt its operations in Ogun State. In a statement issued on Thursday, the firm’s manager, Mustapha Tiamiyu, claimed that intelligence available to the company indicated that the planned attack would target its field staff across Abeokuta. Tiamiyu alleged that the attackers were planning to disguise themselves in uniforms resembling those of the company’s staff in a bid to implicate the firm in acts capable of breaching public peace. According to him, the alleged…