Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Former Jigawa State Governor and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sule Lamido, has urged aspirants and candidates preparing for the 2027 general elections to conduct issue-based campaigns, warning against personal attacks and politics of bitterness. Lamido said political actors should concentrate on presenting practical solutions to Nigeria’s pressing challenges rather than engaging in character assassination. The elder statesman spoke on Saturday while receiving PDP governorship candidates from Gombe, Kano, Bauchi and Yobe states at his residence in Bamaina, Birnin Kudu Local Government Area of Jigawa State. He stressed that the country’s current socio-economic and security challenges demanded mature…

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said the Federal Government’s ongoing reforms of the National Youth Service Corps will strengthen youth empowerment, boost human capital development and accelerate Nigeria’s drive towards achieving a $1 trillion economy. Oyintiloye, a former member of the Osun State House of Assembly, described the reforms as a strategic shift from the traditional national service model to a skills-based programme designed to equip graduates with practical competencies for the modern labour market. He said the initiative aligns with the Federal Government’s economic agenda by preparing young Nigerians with industry-relevant skills capable of…

Dangote Cement Plc has unveiled an ambitious sustainability roadmap, announcing plans to reduce its carbon emissions by 20 per cent and expand its installed production capacity to 80 million tonnes per annum by 2030 as part of efforts to strengthen its position as Africa’s leading cement manufacturer. The company disclosed the targets at its 17th Annual General Meeting held in Lagos, where it presented its 2025 Sustainability Scorecard to shareholders and stakeholders. Chairman of Dangote Cement Plc, Emmanuel Ikazoboh, said sustainability had evolved from a regulatory requirement into a core business strategy driving the company’s long-term growth, resilience and competitiveness…

The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, has challenged political, traditional and religious leaders in Northern Nigeria to take responsibility for tackling the region’s worsening insecurity and socio-economic challenges, insisting that no outsider would solve the North’s problems. Speaking at the annual Dhikr and National Prayers organised by the Tijaniyya Islamic sect at the Kano Emir’s Palace over the weekend, Sanusi said meaningful change would only come when leaders united to rebuild the region and improve the welfare of its people. The former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria said Northern leaders must first reform themselves instead of expecting…

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has dismissed reports alleging that he was offered ₦500 billion to influence or split votes in the South-South geopolitical zone ahead of the 2027 general elections, describing the claim as false and baseless. Jonathan, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Ikechukwu Eze, said the former President had no involvement in any meeting, discussion or arrangement relating to the alleged offer. In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, Eze described the report as a deliberate fabrication aimed at dragging Jonathan into partisan political controversies and misleading the public. “The report is entirely false and baseless.…

… COAS Calls For Tech-Driven Security Strategy … Lists Cybercrime, Organised Crime Among New Dangers Daud Olatunji The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has called for the adoption of artificial intelligence, unmanned aerial systems and other emerging technologies to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to tackle the country’s rapidly evolving security threats. Shaibu said the nation’s security landscape had become more sophisticated, extending beyond insurgency, terrorism and banditry to include cyber warfare, transnational organised crime, resource-driven conflicts and other technology-enabled threats. The army chief made the call on Sunday while delivering a lecture at the Nigerian Army Day Celebration…

The Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan has adjourned until October 29, 2026, the appeal filed by the University of Ibadan challenging a Federal High Court judgment that ordered the institution to allow a postgraduate student, Kayode Bello, to graduate. Bello, who has been locked in a protracted legal dispute with the university over his Master’s degree in Communication Arts, alleged on Sunday that the adjournment followed what he described as a threat by the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Court of Appeal, Mrs Maryam Belgore, during a court-ordered mediation process. The student claimed Belgore warned that the appeal could…

The Delta State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 202 suspects during coordinated raids on brothels, suspected drug dens and other identified criminal hideouts in Asaba, the state capital. The operation, which was carried out on Saturday, also led to the impoundment of 25 vehicles, tricycles and motorcycles for alleged traffic and regulatory violations. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, SP Bright Edafe, disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, saying the operation was intelligence-led and aimed at dismantling criminal networks operating within the Asaba metropolis. According to him, the raid was led by the Deputy…

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has expressed optimism that the 39 schoolchildren and seven teachers abducted in Oyo State will soon regain their freedom, saying ongoing military operations are recording significant progress. Shaibu gave the assurance on Sunday during an interactive session with media executives in Port Harcourt as part of activities marking the 2026 Nigerian Army Day Celebration. The victims were kidnapped on May 15, 2026, after armed men attacked three schools in Orire Local Government Area of Oyo State, triggering nationwide outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of schools. Providing an update on…

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, on Sunday renewed his call for President Bola Tinubu to resign, alleging that the administration had entrenched what he described as “grand corruption” following an International Monetary Fund consultation report that reportedly identified N8.83tn in unbudgeted expenditure for 2025. In a statement titled “Grand Corruption: Nigeria’s Greatest Threat” and posted on his verified X handle, Obi said the reported expenditure, which he claimed was not captured in the 2025 Appropriation Act, raised serious concerns about transparency and accountability in the management of public finances. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the former…