Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Benin Republic has declared Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Tigri and two other soldiers wanted following Sunday’s failed coup attempt aimed at toppling President Patrice Talon. The development was confirmed on Monday by Nigeria’s presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed in a post on that Benin’s constitutional authorities had issued the official notice after regaining control of the situation. Tigri, a senior military officer, had led a group of mutinous soldiers in an attempt to seize power in Cotonou, briefly detaining top security officials, including the country’s Chief of Army Staff and the Chief of the National Guard. According to security analyst…

Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday declined an application by the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, seeking to be transferred from the Sokoto Correctional Centre to a facility closer to the Federal Capital Territory. Kanu, who is currently serving a life sentence after being convicted on seven terrorism-related charges on November 20, had asked the court to order his immediate relocation to Kuje Custodial Centre in Abuja or Keffi in Nasarawa State. The application, filed through the Legal Aid Council, argued that the IPOB leader’s incarceration in Sokoto—over 700…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday held a marathon closed-door meeting with six governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, sparking fresh speculations over the administration’s response to mounting national security concerns and ongoing political realignments. The meeting, which lasted nearly two hours, was held in the President’s office, with none of the governors willing to brief State House correspondents afterward. The governors in attendance were Umar Namadi (Jigawa), Monday Okpebholo (Edo), Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), Usman Ododo (Kogi), Aliyu Sokoto (Sokoto) and Nasir Idris (Kebbi). Although the Presidency kept mum on the…

In an extraordinary demonstration of religious harmony, Muslims and Christians in the Itesi community of Abeokuta, Ogun State, have jointly launched a N150 million fundraising campaign to remodel and expand the 80-year-old Itesi Central Mosque. The initiative, unveiled during a Turbaning Ceremony and Fundraising Appeal held on Saturday at St. Peter Claver’s Convent School, drew faith leaders, government officials, traditional representatives and community development advocates — all united behind a project hailed as a model of peaceful coexistence. Representing the Minister in Charge of Trinity Methodist Church, Itesi, Reverend Adejuwon Adeolu Joseph praised the collaboration as a remarkable deviation from…

With growing anxiety among business owners and individuals over the implementation of the new Tax Act scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026, organisers of the Health and Business Conference (HBC 1.0) say the forum will provide clear, practical guidance on the sweeping fiscal changes. The conference, convened by policy advocate and entrepreneurship coach, Dr. Adeyinka Adegbite, popularly known as Omo-Baba-Tisa, is billed for Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Iwe-Iroyin Hall, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta, starting at 12 noon. Adegbite said the event became necessary following reports that many business owners and individuals are already considering mass withdrawal of funds…

It is a common fact that the Tinubu led administration in Nigeria has embarked on tax reforms for tax administration efficiency. As a result, new laws including Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTA), Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS) Act and Joint Revenue Board of Nigeria (JRBN) Act have been enacted and would be operationally effective by January 1,2026. As there are many provisions in it, this review only seeks to enlighten the public on common offences in the tax laws which may affect some taxpayers or members of public who may be involved in tax matters. And since…

…NIMC, Tax Board, NBS Among Worst-Performing MDAs …Bureaucratic Rot Hits Nigeria’s Public Sector Daud Olatunji Nigeria’s public service is facing an unprecedented crisis, as a new federal audit has revealed that 30 Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are “structurally non-compliant and operationally failing.” The findings expose deep rot in institutions that are supposed to drive governance, economic growth, and investor confidence. The January–October 2025 Business Facilitation Act (BFA) Compliance Ranking, compiled by the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC)  shows that more than half of federal agencies failed to meet the minimum 50% benchmark for service delivery, accountability, and digital…

Nigeria’s National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, on Sunday hosted a delegation of the United States Congress in Abuja, deepening ongoing defence and intelligence consultations between both countries at a time of heightened diplomatic strain. Ribadu, who disclosed the meeting on his X handle, said the lawmakers were visiting Nigeria on a fact-finding mission following earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., where discussions centred on counter-terrorism cooperation, intelligence sharing, and stabilising the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. “This morning, I received a US Congressional delegation on a fact-finding mission to Nigeria, following our earlier engagements in Washington, D.C., on shared security…

’The power struggle tearing through the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reached a breaking point on Sunday night as the Abdulrahman Mohammed-led faction announced plans to install a national caretaker committee, declaring that the tenure of the current National Working Committee (NWC) expires on Tuesday, December 9. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the move—backed by the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT)—is expected to be ratified at a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting already marred by disputes, petitions and factional walkouts. BoT Chairman, Senator Mao Ohuabunwa, said the party risked drifting into paralysis if urgent steps were not taken. “Nature abhors a vacuum.…

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has disclosed that it played a pivotal role in thwarting an attempted coup against President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin. The coup attempt unfolded early Sunday when a faction of Beninese soldiers seized the state television station, declaring the dissolution of the government and the removal of President Talon, who has led the country since 2016. The mutineers, identifying themselves as members of the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), announced the suspension of the constitution and closure of all land borders and airspace. They named Lieutenant-Colonel Tigri Pascal to lead a military transition…