Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi |l Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) is not inferior to conventional universities, insisting that the institution plays a critical role in addressing Nigeria’s educational needs. Obasanjo, who made this assertion on Monday while receiving an award as NOUN’s first alumnus, emphasized the importance of distance learning in a developing country like Nigeria, where millions are still unable to access traditional tertiary education. Speaking at the university’s headquarters, Obasanjo, the founder of NOUN, reflected on the evolution of Nigeria’s university system, noting that the expansion of universities over the years…

President/Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, on Thursday, declared that his conglomerate remitted a total of N450 billion in taxes to the Federal Government in 2024, positioning the company as the highest tax contributor in the country. Dangote made the disclosure during President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s visit to the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals Plant in Lekki, Lagos. Speaking before an audience that included top business leaders and federal officials, Dangote stated that the tax paid by his group exceeded the combined contributions of all Nigerian banks, highlighting the company’s pivotal role in Nigeria’s fiscal sustainability. Despite this…

… Recovers 161,000 Litres of Stolen Products The Nigerian Army says its ongoing crackdown on oil theft in the Niger Delta has yielded significant results, with the discovery of 27 illegal refining sites, arrest of 43 suspects, and recovery of over 161,000 litres of stolen petroleum products. The operations, which were carried out by troops of the 6 Division between May 26 and June 8, 2025, spanned across Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Delta states. This was contained in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday by the Acting Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, 6 Division, Lt. Col. Jonah…

A fresh political spat has erupted between the publisher of Sahara Reporters and former presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, and a former spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign, Segun Showunmi, following the latter’s recent visit to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Sowore, in a scathing Facebook post on Sunday, accused Showunmi of duplicity and political inconsistency, describing him as a “double speaker” who once courted opposition unity against Tinubu, only to later pay homage to the same leader. Titled “Segun Showunmi and Double Speak!”, Sowore’s post came hours after Showunmi shared pictures from a Sallah visit to President Tinubu in Lagos,…

Daud Olatunji  It was a riot of colours, glamour, and cultural elegance in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, as thousands thronged the city for the 2025 edition of the annual Ojude Oba festival — a century-old celebration that once again brought the Ijebu people’s rich traditions and unity to the fore. The Minister of Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy, Barr. Hannatu Musawa, who graced the occasion, reaffirmed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as the greatest black nation on earth. She stated that the administration was leveraging the cultural and creative economy as a strategic avenue to spur national prosperity.…

Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed speculations suggesting a rift between him and President Bola Tinubu, describing the claims as baseless and the handiwork of mischief-makers. Sanwo-Olu made the clarification on Sunday during a visit to President Tinubu’s residence in Ikoyi, Lagos, alongside members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state. The visit, which came amid mounting rumours of a frosty relationship between the duo, was described by the governor as a routine “festive courtesy call.” Addressing journalists after the closed-door meeting, Sanwo-Olu reaffirmed his loyalty…

As political actors realign ahead of the 2027 general elections, Director-General of the Tinubu Support Group (TSG), Dr. Umar Tanko Yakasai, has dismissed the viability of a proposed opposition coalition, insisting it lacks credibility and public trust. Speaking with journalists in Abuja over the weekend, Dr. Yakasai declared that the coalition, reportedly being formed by leading opposition figures to unseat President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, would crumble under the weight of conflicting ambitions and questionable antecedents. According to him, Nigerians are wary of the opposition’s track record, which, he argued, is riddled with poor governance and corruption that President Tinubu is…

Pandemonium broke out in Agbarho community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State, as scores of enraged women staged a massive protest over the mysterious disappearance of no fewer than 26 children, sparking fresh fears and outrage among residents. The demonstrators, clad in black garments symbolizing mourning and despair, stormed major roads in the community on Friday, wailing, chanting sorrowful songs, and wielding placards with bold inscriptions such as “Stop Stealing Our Children,” “Where Are Our Kids?” and “We Want Justice.” The protest comes amid growing tension following the alleged abduction of children aged between three and 10 years,…

Daud Olatunji A  chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and former governorship aspirant in Ogun State, Segun Showunmi, has called for the scrapping of constituency projects allocated to lawmakers, describing them as an abuse of legislative privilege that undermines the core responsibility of the National Assembly. Speaking during an exclusive session with journalists in Abeokuta, Showunmi decried the current structure of legislative oversight, insisting that it has eroded the independence of the legislature and reduced its effectiveness in holding the executive to account. “We have come to the point where we must remove that nonsense from the privileges the…

Daud Olatunji   As part of ongoing efforts to enhance Nigeria’s cybersecurity legal framework, the Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, Senator Shuaib Afolabi Salis, has announced that a Cybersecurity Legislative Summit will be held in July 2025, with the aim of harmonizing perspectives from key national and international stakeholders. Speaking during a live radio programme in Abeokuta, Senator Salis disclosed that the summit is being organised in partnership with the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, which is responsible for the administration of the country’s criminal justice system, and the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA), which oversees…