Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government has officially pegged the minimum age for admission into tertiary institutions in Nigeria at 16 years. Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, announced the policy on Tuesday during the 2025 Policy Meeting of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), held in Abuja. Alausa stated that the decision is now binding on all universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across the country, warning institutions against flouting the directive. “This decision balances cognitive development with academic readiness,” he said. “Institutions must ensure strict compliance. We expect that this standard will streamline the admission process and reduce pressure on…

The United States government has announced a significant reduction in visa validity for most Nigerian applicants. PLATFORM TIMES reports that this development is  a major shift with far-reaching implications for Nigerian travelers. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that effective immediately, Nigerian citizens applying for most categories of non-immigrant and non-official visas will now be issued single-entry visas valid for only three months, a stark contrast to the previous policy that allowed multiple-entry visas valid for up to two years. The announcement was made by the US Mission in Nigeria via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, July 8, 2025. “Effective…

…Says Mass Hardship Worsening Despite Rising Allocations Daud Olatunji A retired Permanent Secretary in Ogun State, Mr. Sefiu Rasheed, has urged the Federal Government to urgently reassess its current economic strategy, warning that the gains from the removal of fuel subsidies are not translating into real benefits for ordinary Nigerians. In a strongly worded critique titled “Reassessing Economic Strategies: A Call to Action for the Federal Government of Nigeria”, Rasheed said that while the withdrawal of fuel subsidies has boosted revenue allocations to states, the resultant funds are being channeled into mega projects that have little or no immediate impact…

…Royal drummers Relocate To Ladoja’s Residence As Ibadan Prepares For Transition The ancient city of Ibadan has been thrown into deep mourning following the death of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors just two days after celebrating his 90th birthday. The monarch’s passing, which came barely a week to the first anniversary of his coronation, has sparked an outpouring of tributes from across the country, with President Bola Tinubu, Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde, Sultan of Sokoto Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, former Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, and others paying glowing tributes to the…

The Ogun State Government has blamed rising insecurity and poverty for the increasing number of out-of-school children, even as it launched a major advocacy campaign to address the crisis in collaboration with the National Commission for Almajiri and Out-of-School Children’s Education. Speaking at the official flag-off of the Ogun State chapter of the national advocacy with the theme “Revitalisation of the Out-of-School Children Initiative”, Commissioner for Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said the state was adopting a multi-pronged approach to tackle the menace. Arigbabu decried the situation, stating that while statistics may vary, the existence of any child…

…Roofs destroyed, families forced out amid escalating tension The lingering Kano emirate crisis took a dramatic turn on Monday as loyalists of the deposed Emir Aminu Ado Bayero were forcibly evicted from the main palace, escalating tensions in the historic northern city. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that several officials and their families, who have resided within the palace premises for decades, were ordered to vacate the premises for alleged disloyalty to the reinstated Emir, Muhammadu Sanusi II. Some insiders alleged that suspected thugs carried out the eviction violently, tearing off the roofs of some houses within the palace to force the…

Balkis Adeniji  The Federal Government spent a staggering N536.4 billion on electricity subsidies in the first quarter of 2025, according to a newly released report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC). The commission attributed the ballooning subsidy bill to the absence of cost-reflective tariffs across all electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country. This gap between actual generation costs and regulated consumer tariffs has left the government footing a significant portion of the energy bill. According to NERC’s Q1 2025 report, the subsidy accounted for 59.16 percent of the total invoice issued by the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET)…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that funds saved from the removal of fuel subsidy are being redirected to key infrastructure projects, social support programmes, and economic reforms targeted at inclusive growth. Speaking through the Minister of State for Finance, Dr. Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite, at the opening of the National Conference on Public Accounts and Fiscal Governance in Abuja, Tinubu described the subsidy removal as a tough but necessary decision. He revealed that over ₦4 trillion was spent on subsidies in 2022, surpassing capital expenditure allocations for that year. According to him, the subsidy mainly benefited the wealthy, encouraged smuggling,…

…As Tinubu attends Brazil summit pushing for fairer global finance, healthcare systems  The United States President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Nigeria and other countries aligning with the BRICS coalition, threatening to impose an additional 10 per cent tariff over what he described as “anti-American policies.” This comes as President Bola Tinubu attends the ongoing BRICS Summit in Brazil, where he is pushing for more equitable global financial and healthcare systems. Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed Tinubu’s presence at the summit in a statement on Monday. Trump had said while campaigning for second term threatened to severe…

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede, has raised concern over the growing involvement of Nigerian youths in internet fraud, warning that the trend is tarnishing the nation’s global image and discouraging foreign investment. Olukoyede, who spoke through the acting Zonal Director of the EFCC in Benin, Assistant Commander of the EFCC I, Effa Okim, at an event held at Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba, Delta State, described cybercrime as a major economic threat. “The menace of internet fraud among our youth is pervasive and it is a stain on us as a people and…