Author: Platform Times Newspaper

At least 40 per cent of Nigerian adults are now living with hypertension, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has revealed, highlighting the country’s growing struggle with non-communicable diseases. The 2025 State of Health of the Nation Report, released on Sunday, shows that while awareness of high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases improved slightly compared to 2024, the prevalence of hypertension remains dangerously high. The report credits public health campaigns by the ministry and professional health bodies for raising awareness, encouraging routine checks, and promoting healthier lifestyles. “Hypertension is a silent killer. Many Nigerians are unaware they have…

All six crew members aboard a U.S. KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft have been confirmed dead following a crash in western Iraq on Thursday, the U.S. Central Command announced. The aircraft, tasked with mid-air refueling during Operation Epic Fury, went down while flying over friendly airspace. “All six crew members aboard the aircraft are now confirmed deceased,” the Command posted on X. “The circumstances of the incident are under investigation. However, the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile or friendly fire.” The identities of the victims remain withheld pending notification of next of kin. While the U.S. insists…

Uthman Ogunfolaji A suspected member of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) has revealed that he intended to surrender to security forces after the Ramadan fast, but was intercepted by the Nigerian Army before he could act on his plan. Troops operating under Operation HADIN KAI arrested the insurgent while he was transporting motorcycle tyres and other maintenance spare parts from the Timbuktu Triangle, military sources confirmed on Thursday. During interrogation, the suspect admitted his affiliation with ISWAP, saying, “I am from the Markas of Kauwa under the leadership of Hamzala and assisted by Abu Umar. “I buy tyres…

A Lagos Special Offences Court on Wednesday sentenced Emmanuel Nwude, former Union Bank director, and two lawyers, Emmanuel Ilechukwu and Rowland Kalu, to one year in prison each for forgery and dealing in forfeited property. The judgement, delivered by Justice Mojisola Dada, concluded a long-running case that has spanned more than a decade, following the trio’s alleged attempt to illegally transact a property already forfeited to victims of Nwude’s infamous $242 million “non-existent airport” fraud. Nwude was previously sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2005 after defrauding Nelson Sakaguchi, a former director of Brazil’s Banco Noroeste, by selling a…

Security operatives have rescued a young boy allegedly abducted from Lafia, Nasarawa State, after intercepting suspected child traffickers in the nation’s capital. According to a Facebook post by One Aliyu Musa on Thursday, March 12, 2026, the child was reportedly taken from within the College of Agriculture in Lafia and transported to Abuja, where the criminals intended to sell him. “By the grace of God, security operatives arrested the traffickers and rescued the child. He is currently in the custody of authorities in Abuja,” Musa wrote, appealing to the public for help in locating the boy’s family. He urged anyone…

The Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) has released a total of ₦1.894 trillion as the February 2026 revenue allocation to the Federal Government, state governments, and local councils, a statement from the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation has revealed. The disbursement, confirmed by Bawa Mokwa, Director of Press and Public Relations, followed the FAAC meeting held in Abuja earlier this month. Of the total, ₦1.274 trillion came from distributable statutory revenue, while ₦619.119 billion was generated from Value Added Tax (VAT). According to the communiqué, February’s gross revenue stood at ₦2.230 trillion. However, ₦77.302 billion was deducted as…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, handed over a total of $225,895 and ₦62.79 million recovered from fraudsters to victims from the United States and South Africa. The ceremony, held at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, was presided over by the Commission’s Secretary, Mohammed Hammajoda, and witnessed by representatives of the victims’ nations, including FBI Assistant Law Enforcement Attaché Mike Fukuda and the Acting South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Lindi Mminele. Hammajoda described corruption as a “global menace” that required collaborative efforts to combat. “Corruption has no borders. “If we do not fight it together, it…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged Nigerian media organisations to intensify scrutiny of state governments and local councils, stressing that subnational authorities now enjoy greater financial autonomy and must be held accountable for how they utilise public funds. Tinubu made the call on Friday while hosting leaders of the Nigerian media industry at a dinner at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja. The gathering was attended by the leadership of the Nigerian Press Organisation, including the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria, the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria, the Nigerian Guild of Editors, and the Nigeria Union of Journalists. The President said…

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has rejected the reported dissolution of its State Executive Committee, insisting that the leadership of the party in the state remains intact. The party described the purported dissolution as a misleading claim aimed at creating confusion and disaffection within its ranks. Addressing newsmen at a press conference held in Abeokuta,  on Friday, by the Ogun State Chairman of the PDP, Abayomi Tella, urged members, supporters and the public to disregard what it called a “distasteful innuendo” circulating on social media regarding the alleged dissolution. Tella maintained that the current Ogun PDP…

The Ogun State Deputy Governor, Engr. Noimot Salako-Oyedele, on Friday, unveiled the Rockcity Centre for Media and Leadership Development in Abeokuta, calling on stakeholders to intensify efforts toward encouraging girls to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Salako-Oyedele made the call during the unveiling of the centre at a STEM education programme for female students drawn from public and private secondary schools across Ogun State, held at Taidob College, Asero, Abeokuta. The event attracted prominent stakeholders including the Olowu of Owu, Oba, Prof. Saka Matemilola, Director of the International Press Centre, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, academics, government officials and…