Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Ogun State Commissioner of Police, CP Lanre Ogunlowo, has declared that sporting dreadlocks, tinted hair or having tattoos does not make an individual a criminal, stating emphatically that no section of the Nigerian constitution criminalises such appearances. Ogunlowo made this known during a special interactive session tagged ‘Time Out With Broadcasters’, organised by the Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN), held in Abeokuta, the state capital. While fielding questions from media professionals and stakeholders, the CP cautioned against profiling individuals based on appearance, saying it is against professional policing ethics and the…

In a bid to appreciate its loyal customers for their continued patronage, Oni Electronics, a leading home appliances retailer in Abeokuta, Ogun State, has rewarded 60 customers with an array of valuable household items during a grand appreciation event held at the company’s Sapon office. The well-attended event drew dignitaries from various sectors, including traditional rulers, business leaders, and market associations. Among the notable guests was the Olu of Itori, Oba Fatai Akorede Akamo, who commended the gesture and described it as a commendable act of corporate responsibility. While officially declaring the event open, Oba Akamo extolled the virtues of…

An Australia-based Nigerian woman, Binta Abubakar, has been arrested by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for allegedly trafficking 15 students from Papua New Guinea (PNG) and subjecting them to forced labour on Queensland farms under false pretences of educational scholarships. Abubakar, 56, was apprehended on Wednesday at Brisbane International Airport following her arrival from Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Her arrest culminates a two-year investigation by the AFP’s Northern Command Human Trafficking Team, which began probing her activities in July 2022 after receiving intelligence from Queensland Police. According to the AFP, Abubakar used her company, BIN Educational Services and Consulting,…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has mocked the deepening crises within opposition parties, describing their internal disunity as a welcome development that strengthens the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaking during a joint session of the National Assembly on Thursday, as part of activities marking the 2025 Democracy Day, Tinubu said he derived satisfaction from watching the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), and New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) descend into internal turmoil. The president, who addressed lawmakers at the House of Representatives chambers, stated that opposition parties should look inward for the causes of their instability instead of looking…

As Nigeria marked this year’s Democracy Day on June 12, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation and 1999 presidential candidate, Chief Olu Falae, dropped a political bombshell, claiming he was the rightful winner of the 1999 presidential election but was denied victory by the military elite who installed Olusegun Obasanjo as president. Speaking during an interview on Arise Television, the elder statesman said late billionaire diplomat, Ambassador Deinde Fernandez, confirmed to him that foreign observers had results showing he won the election with a 1.5 million-vote margin. He alleged that those figures were reportedly seen by American…

Wema Bank Plc has received a double boost in credibility as two globally recognized credit rating agencies — Fitch Ratings and Global Credit Ratings (GCR) — upgraded the 80-year-old Nigerian lender’s ratings, citing improved financial performance and a robust risk management structure. Fitch revised the bank’s outlook from Stable to Positive and elevated its National Long-Term Rating to ‘A-(nga)’ from ‘BBB(nga)’, while affirming its Long-Term Issuer Default Rating at ‘B-’. Similarly, GCR upgraded Wema’s national scale long-term issuer rating to BBB+(NG) and short-term rating to A2(NG), both with a Stable outlook. In a statement released on Thursday, Wema Bank described…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has announced a profit after tax (PAT) of N748 billion for April 2025, marking a major financial milestone for the state-owned oil giant. This was disclosed in the company’s Monthly Report Summary for April 2025, which also showed total revenue of N5.89 trillion for the period. The company noted that the figures remain provisional and unaudited. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, NNPC said it remitted N4.22 trillion in statutory payments. The report detailed crude oil and condensate production averaging 1.60 million barrels per day in April, while daily natural gas production…

…urge Tinubu to enact law on June 12 Democracy Day The children of the late winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, have called on the Ogun State Government to urgently renovate and upgrade the Abiola family house in Abeokuta to a national monument in honour of their father’s democratic legacy. Speaking during the annual prayer held at the family residence in Oja-Agbo, Gbagura, Abeokuta, the late icon’s children made passionate appeals to both the federal and state governments to immortalize MKO Abiola by preserving his ancestral home as a historical site. One of…

… A call for a return to the core values of democracy, accountability, and vibrant opposition._ – By Hon. (Chief) Olalekan Alex Shoyinka (Ayinla Egba) Every June 12, Nigerians commemorate the life and legacy of Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (M.K.O.) Abiola—the symbol of our democratic struggle and the man whose name remains etched in the hearts of millions. This year, just like the years before, celebrations continue in Nigeria, presided over by the President himself. But beneath the ceremonies and tributes, one must ask: *What has become of the spirit of June 12?* June 12 was not born from government…

The Moshood Abiola Polytechnic Alumni Association (MAPALUM) has joined millions of Nigerians in commemorating June 12, paying glowing tributes to the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, whom it described as a symbol of democracy and a foundational pillar of the institution’s legacy. In a statement signed by the National Public Relations Officer, Ganiyu Olowu, and made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Thursday, the National President of the Association, Alhaji Ayinde Soaga, described Chief Abiola as a man whose vision and sacrifice not only advanced Nigeria’s democratic evolution but also laid the foundation for the educational growth of generations of…