Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Office of the National Security Adviser has denied allegations that it procured a deadly chemical substance, thallium sulphate, describing the claim as false and unfounded. The denial followed a letter written by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, alleging that the ONSA imported about 10 kilogrammes of the highly toxic compound from a supplier in Poland. In a response signed by Brig.-Gen. O.M. Adesuyi on behalf of the NSA, the office said it had neither procured nor initiated any process to purchase the substance. “ONSA has neither procured nor initiated any process…

The House of Representatives has directed the Offices of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Auditor-General for the Federation to prepare and submit the consolidated financial statements and audited accounts of the Federal Government for 2023, 2024 and 2025 on or before October 2026. The directive was issued on Monday by the House Committee on Public Accounts following an investigative hearing at the National Assembly, where lawmakers scrutinised persistent delays in financial reporting and raised concerns over weaknesses in the country’s public financial management system. Chairman of the committee, Mr Bamidele Salam, expressed displeasure over what he described as…

The Peace Initiative Committee, Ogun Central, has intensified its campaign against cultism, drug abuse and youth violence with a public lecture and a mass peace walk held in Abeokuta to mark its first anniversary. The events, held on Saturday at the June 12 Cultural Centre and across major streets in the state capital, drew youths, security agencies and community stakeholders who called for collective action to address rising social vices in the state. Speaking at the anniversary lecture, Chairman of the committee, Comrade Abioro Micheal, popularly known as Akoko Rugged, said the group had in the last one year facilitated…

The President of Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, and the Sultan  of Sokoto, Alhaj Sa’ad Abubakar, has called on Muslims across the country to begin the sighting of the new moon of Ramadan 1447AH on Tuesday, February 17, 2026. The directive was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs and signed by the Wazirin Sokoto and Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Religious Affairs, Prof. Sambo Wali Junaidu. The Sultan, who is also the President-General of the NSCIA, urged Muslims to look out for the crescent immediately after sunset on Tuesday…

The Federal Government has repatriated 13 Nigerians rescued from a human trafficking syndicate in Ghana, as authorities intensify efforts to curb irregular migration and transnational exploitation. The returnees were received in Lagos on Sunday following coordinated intervention by the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission and the Nigerian High Commission in Accra. In a statement issued by the Head of Media, Public Relations and Protocols Unit of NiDCOM, Abdur-Rahman Balogun, the commission disclosed that the victims were facilitated back to Nigeria after being rescued from traffickers in Ghana. Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NiDCOM, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, commended the Nigerian High Commission for ensuring…

The Defence Headquarters has announced the arrival of 100 United States military personnel at Bauchi Airfield as part of ongoing security cooperation between Nigeria and the United States. In a statement issued on Monday by the Director, Defence Information, Major General Samaila Uba, the military said the deployment followed a formal request by the Federal Government to the US government to support specific training, technical and intelligence needs of the Armed Forces of Nigeria. According to the DHQ, the US personnel are in the country strictly in an advisory and training capacity and will not participate in direct combat operations.…

A land dispute has escalated into a legal and regulatory confrontation in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as a property development company, K.C Bencharis Nig Ltd, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Nigeria Police, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over alleged land grabbing by Baye Homes Ltd. The disputed parcel of land is located in the Kuchiyako I and II area behind Imprest Construction site, Kuje, Abuja. K.C Bencharis, through its solicitors, accused Baye Homes of trespass and unlawfully representing ownership of the land in question. In a pre-action notice dated January…

Authorities of the Nigerian Correctional Service and landowners in Avu community, Imo State, have raised the alarm over what they described as a brazen land grab, calling on the government to return 38.76 hectares of land allegedly forcefully taken by suspected agents of the state. The land, originally 61 hectares allocated to the Prisons Service under the 1977 master plan of Imo State, has reportedly been encroached upon in recent weeks, with fences broken and structures demolished under the pretext of security operations. Speaking to journalists, Chief Sam Anokam, attorney representing the Correctional Service and affected allottees, condemned the action. “I…

The House of Representatives has kicked off a high-stakes investigation into the alleged non-release of N174.26 billion earmarked for agricultural interventions, raising fresh alarms over Nigeria’s food security. Chairman of the House Committee on Agricultural Production and Services, Hon. Bello Ka’oje, urged all ministries, development partners, and agencies involved to provide documents and full cooperation to ensure a transparent inquiry. The probe follows a motion sponsored by Ka’oje in January, directing lawmakers to scrutinise projects funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The aim: ensure donor-backed agricultural interventions are fully implemented and resources…

… NMA Says More Physicians Now Outside Country … Poor Welfare, Better Pay Abroad Drive Exodus Daud Olatunji The Nigeria Medical Association has revealed that more than 50,000 Nigerian-trained doctors are currently practising outside the country, intensifying concerns over worsening brain drain and its impact on the nation’s fragile healthcare system. The NMA National President, Bala Mohammed Audu, disclosed this during a courtesy visit to Kalapanzi Barracks in Kakuri, Kaduna, at the weekend, where he commended the Nigerian military for its role in national security and healthcare delivery. Audu lamented that Nigeria now has more of its doctors working abroad…