Author: Platform Times Newspaper

No fewer than 35 persons were confirmed dead while 46 others sustained varying degrees of burns after a fuel-laden tanker exploded on Tuesday morning along the Bida–Agaie highway in Niger State. The tragic incident, which occurred around 11:00 a.m. near Essan and Badeggi communities in Katcha Local Government Area, threw the entire area into mourning as scores of victims were burnt beyond recognition. Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, Aishat Saadu, said the accident was a lone crash involving a fallen tanker that burst into flames while people were scooping fuel.…

A Magistrate Court sitting in Kuje, Abuja, has ordered the remand of Prince Emmanuel Kanu, the younger brother of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and his lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor, alongside 11 others in prison custody over their involvement in the #FreeNnamdiKanuNow protest. The defendants were arrested on Monday during a demonstration calling for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, who has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) for nearly five years. They were arraigned on Tuesday before the Kuje Magistrate Court on charges bordering on breach of public peace.…

… Bill Aligns Nigeria With Kenya, South Africa On Strict Child Safety Laws … Lawmakers Vow To End Culture Of Impunity In Sexual Crimes Daud Olatunji  The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday passed a landmark bill prescribing life imprisonment for anyone found guilty of sexually assaulting or defiling a minor, in what lawmakers described as a decisive step toward safeguarding children from sexual predators. The bill, which enjoyed overwhelming support on the floor of the red chamber, stipulates that any man or woman convicted of engaging in sexual intercourse with a minor will serve life imprisonment without the option of a…

Daud Olatunji The Federal Ministry of Health has approved the appointment of Mrs. Olawunmi Florence Ladeji as the substantive and first female Director of Administration at the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta. The appointment, which took effect on September 11, 2025, was confirmed through a letter signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Abuja, with reference number SMH.547/T/92 dated October 17, 2025. According to a statement signed by the hospital’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Joseph Ajibola, on behalf of the Provost and Medical Director, Mrs. Ladeji’s appointment followed an impressive performance during the…

Daud Olatunji The Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) has announced the official opening of its student loan application portal for the 2025/2026 academic session, with applications expected to run from Thursday, October 23, 2025, to Saturday, January 31, 2026. In a statement issued by the Fund’s management on Monday in Abuja, NELFUND said the opening of the portal marked another milestone in the implementation of the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding access to higher education for all eligible Nigerian students. According to the statement, the initiative is aimed at easing the financial burden on students in public tertiary institutions, ensuring…

Daud Olatunji The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has announced a major milestone in its youth empowerment initiative as Generation Unlimited Nigeria (GenU 9JA) has been officially institutionalized under the Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The institutionalization, which underscores the Federal Government’s growing commitment to youth development and digital empowerment, was announced during the annual Steering Committee meeting held in Lagos. The meeting was co-chaired by the Office of the Vice President, UNICEF Nigeria, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation, with key representatives from government, private sector, development partners, and youth organizations in attendance. Since…

The Ogun State chapter of the Freelance and Independent Broadcasters’ Association of Nigeria (FIBAN) has congratulated Chief Tiwalade Akingbade, popularly known as Paulo Rossi, on his birthday. In a statement signed by the Acting Chairman, Comrade Aderoju Ogundiran, the association described Chief Akingbade—who serves as Ogun State Secretary of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), RTEAN South West General Secretary, and Assistant National General Secretary—as a dependable leader and seasoned administrator. According to the statement, Chief Akingbade’s exceptional record-keeping and organizational skills have contributed greatly to the smooth running of the transport sector in Nigeria. “Chief Tiwalade Akingbade…

A group of aspirants who contested the 2025 chairmanship primaries under the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the State Chairman of the party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, to honour the party’s earlier promise to refund the nomination fees paid before the exercise. The aspirants, under the umbrella of the Lagos State APC 2025 Chairmanship Aspirants Conference, made the appeal in separate letters to Sanwo-Olu and Ojelabi, both dated September 8, 2025. In the letters jointly signed by the Convener and General Secretary of the group, and titled “Consideration and Solidarity…

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has earned over ₦801.3 billion from Management Fees and the Frontier Exploration Fund within the first nine months of 2025, representing more than half of its annual projection. The figures, drawn from the company’s September 2025 report to the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), revealed that both streams — the Management Fee and Frontier Exploration Fund — recorded ₦400.667 billion each between January and September. Both categories represent 30 per cent shares of profit oil and gas from the Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) operated by the NNPC on behalf of the federation. Despite…

No fewer than 432 persons lost their lives and 2,070 others sustained injuries in various road crashes across Nigeria within just one month, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has disclosed. The Corps Marshal, Shehu Mohammed, revealed the figures while addressing journalists during the flag-off of the 2025 Ember Months Public Enlightenment and Sensitisation Campaign, themed “Taking Responsibility for Your Safety.” Mohammed, who was represented by the Bauchi Sector Commander, Apaji Boyi, said the fatalities were recorded from 533 reported crashes between January 15 and February 15, 2025. He attributed the high rate of accidents to drivers’ recklessness, including fatigue,…