Author: Platform Times Newspaper

…Nigerians, Pakistanis, Mexicans Affected ….. Police use rubber bullets , Teargas To Restore Order Tensions erupted in Durban on Wednesday as South African police fired rubber bullets and teargas to disperse hundreds of protesters demanding tougher action against foreigners, including Nigerians, amid fears of job losses and rising crime. The demonstration, organised by the xenophobic vigilante group Operation Dudula in collaboration with the March and March Movement, saw crowds march through the city streets, waving placards and chanting anti-immigrant slogans. Protesters singled out Nigerians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Mexicans, and other foreign nationals, accusing them of taking jobs from locals and fueling…

Hundreds of informal sector workers, including market women, mechanics, artisans and traders, on Wednesday staged a peaceful protest at the National Assembly Complex, demanding urgent government intervention on pensions, healthcare and social protection. The protesters, under the aegis of the Federation of Informal Workers’ Organizations of Nigeria, said the Federal Government must prioritise the welfare of millions of Nigerians operating outside the formal employment structure. Addressing journalists during the protest, FIWON General Secretary, Gbenga Komolafe, lamented that despite contributing significantly to the nation’s economy, informal workers remained largely excluded from key social protection schemes. He noted that the sector accounts…

A chieftain of the African Democratic Congress, Dele Momodu, has said that key political figures who contributed to the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 are now poised to align with the party to unseat President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general elections. Momodu, who spoke on Wednesday during an interview on Arise News Morning Show, said the bloc includes prominent politicians such as former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai; ex-Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami; former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar; and former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal. He described the group as a strategic force capable of influencing the…

The Niger State Police Command has arrested a 38-year-old resident, Hamisu Abdullahi, for allegedly shouting “no water, no light” during the visit of Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to Suleja. It was  gathered that the incident occurred last Friday at the palace of the Emir of Suleja shortly after the Eid-el-Fitr prayers, where the governor had paid a traditional Sallah homage. Abdullahi, an electrician and father of four, was reportedly apprehended by security operatives after raising the alarm over lack of basic amenities while the governor’s convoy was at the palace. Confirming the arrest, the Police Public Relations Officer in the…

Independent petroleum depot owners have reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) to N1,270 per litre, undercutting the gantry price offered by the Dangote Refinery, findings by PLATFORM TIMES have shown. The downward review marks a drop from the previous range of N1,285 to N1,290 per litre, as operators intensify price competition in the downstream oil sector. Major depot operators, including AA Rano, Sahara, Soroman, Bovas and Alkanes, were confirmed to have effected the new pricing on Wednesday. The new ex-depot rate is N5 lower than the N1,275 per litre gantry price currently maintained by the Dangote Refinery,…

As the crescent of Ramadan fades into memory, the true question before us is not how much we accomplished within its sacred days, but how much of it will remain alive within us. Ramadan was never meant to be a seasonal ritual; it is a divine training ground—one that refines the soul, disciplines the tongue, and softens the heart. Allah reminds us in the Qur’an: *“And speak to people good words…”* (Qur’an 2:83). This simple yet profound command reorients our priorities. In a world that celebrates intellectual dominance and winning arguments, revelation calls us to something higher—kindness, compassion, and dignity…

By Charles Segun Adegbite A wave of urgent reform calls is sweeping through Nigeria’s industrial sector following the dramatic shutdown of three hazardous factories in Ogijo, a move that has spotlighted the dire state of workplace safety and the human cost of regulatory neglect. The Federal Government, through the Ministry of Labour and Employment, ordered the immediate closure of African Refractory and Allied Products Limited (ARAP), African Non-Ferrous Industries Limited, and Metalworld Recycling Limited after damning inspections revealed shocking safety lapses. Behind the factory walls, workers were reportedly exposed daily to toxic substances—particularly used lead-acid batteries—without adequate protection. There were…

A prominent Egba chief, Mustapha Abdulhakeem Akinfiwatolu, has recounted the historic struggle and resilience that led to the emergence of Abeokuta, describing it as a product of courage, unity and long-term sacrifice rooted in the 18th century revolt led by Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. Akinfiwatolu, who is the Akinfiwatolu of Egbaland, said the story of the Egba people remains a defining narrative of resistance against oppression, noting that Lisabi’s uprising against the old Oyo Empire in the 1760s marked a turning point in the quest for self-determination. According to him, the Egba people, who were under the political control and tribute…

Prominent politicians  in Ogun State have dismissed reports alleging that chieftains of the All Progressives Congress had adopted consensus governorship aspirants for South-West states, describing the claim as a “desperate and misleading attempt” to manipulate the political process. The stakeholders said the narrative, which surfaced in a national daily, was aimed at deceiving other aspirants into abandoning their ambitions ahead of the 2027 governorship race. They insisted that any attempt to impose candidates under the guise of consensus would fail, stressing that provisions of the amended Electoral Act clearly spell out the conditions for adopting consensus candidates. The controversial report…

… Trial Suspended As Negotiations Begin … Court Demands Update May 12 Daud Olatunji Cryptocurrency firm, Binance Holdings Limited, has initiated moves to resolve the tax evasion charges filed against it by the Federal Government through an out-of-court settlement, a development that has temporarily stalled proceedings before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The company’s counsel, Sunday Agaji, disclosed on Tuesday that discussions were ongoing between the parties when the matter came up before Justice Emeka Nwite. Counsel to the government and a deputy director in the legal department of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, Moses Ideho, confirmed that the…