Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has announced a new personal policy restricting photo sessions with random individuals, following the circulation of a viral documentary in which his photograph appeared alongside a suspected fraudster accused of defrauding a Romanian woman of $2.5 million. Egbetokun disclosed this at a recent public event, explaining that criminals increasingly exploit photographs with public figures to gain credibility and shield illicit activities. “I would want to apologise to those distinguished individuals whose photo opportunities I have declined. This decision is not driven by pride but by caution at a time when photo opportunities granted at…

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said the old Port Harcourt Refinery is about 90 per cent rehabilitated and technically ready to resume operations within one week, pending a final decision by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). PENGASSAN President, Mr Festus Osifo, disclosed this on Tuesday during an appearance on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, saying the plant could be switched on immediately from a technical standpoint. “As of today, you can start the old Port Harcourt refinery and it will function. You can put it on today and it will work,”…

The Nigerian Meteorological Agency has warned that Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and 33 other states will experience an abnormal and extended rainy season this year, alongside episodes of heavy rainfall, prolonged dry spells and above-average temperatures across the country. In its latest Seasonal Climate Prediction, NiMet said most parts of Nigeria would record normal annual rainfall compared to long-term averages, but stressed that rainfall patterns would be uneven, with some states facing excessive downpours and others battling below-normal precipitation. The agency forecast above-normal rainfall in Borno, Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Enugu, Cross River, Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom states and the Federal Capital…

The Federal Government has lifted the controversial “No Work, No Pay” directive imposed on members of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU) and approved the immediate payment of their January 2026 salaries following the suspension of the union’s 84-day nationwide strike. The decision was reached after a successful conciliation meeting between the Federal Government and JOHESU, which led the union to direct its members across the country to resume duties in the interest of patients, health system stability and national public health security. In a statement issued on Monday by the Assistant Director of Press and Public Relations at the…

A Lagos State Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of a man, Kayode Samuel Jolaoso, at the Kirikiri Correctional Centre for 10 days after he was caught secretly recording UK-based Nigerian blogger, Maureen Badejo, during court proceedings. Jolaoso, said to be a loyalist of the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Dr Daniel Olukoya, was found guilty of contempt of court after his actions were discovered inside the courtroom. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that Badejo had earlier been granted bail in the sum of ₦10m with a surety acceptable to the court following her recent detention…

Fawaz Adebisi The Nigerian Senate today approved amendments to the Electoral Act, mandating the electronic transmission of polling unit results to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC’s Result Viewing Portal, IReV. The decision, which comes after days of public outcry and protests, includes a provision for manual collation as a fallback in cases of technical failures, such as network disruptions. The amended Clause 60(3) requires presiding officers at each polling unit to electronically transmit results after Form EC8A has been completed, signed, and stamped by INEC officials and party agents where available. However, if electronic transmission is hindered by communication…

The Grand Chief Imam of Lagos, Shaykh (Engr.) Sulaimon Oluwatoyin Abou Nolla, has said Muslims in Lagos State will commence and end this year’s Ramadan fasting strictly in line with the official declaration of the Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. In a video message monitored in Lagos on Tuesday, the Chief Imam urged Muslims to remain patient and await the Sultan’s announcement on the sighting of the new moon, describing the directive as binding and essential for unity among the faithful. “As we did it in previous years,…

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyo Kingdom, Sheikh (Barrister) Bilal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has reaffirmed that Muslims in Oyo Land will continue to recognise and follow the leadership of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, on all Islamic matters. The cleric stated this against the backdrop of what he described as attempts by “divisive elements” to politicise religious leadership and sow discord within the Nigerian Muslim Ummah, particularly in parts of the South-West. Akeugberu said the position of Muslims in Oyo Land remains firmly rooted in Islamic teachings and tradition, stressing that unity under a recognised leadership is…

Daud Olatunji Experts and policymakers from across Nigeria’s public and private sectors will on Tuesday converge in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to examine how engineering and urban planning can be deployed to strengthen national security. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  discourse will take place at the 12th Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series organised by the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), with the theme, “Designing Safer Nigeria: Engineering, Planning and the Fight Against Insecurity.” PLATFORM TIMES further reports that the  event is scheduled for 11am at the Ogun Pensioners Hall, opposite Waheed Kadiri House, along Moshood Abiola…

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that it has secretly banned the sale and use of Amoxicillin in Nigeria, describing the report as false and misleading. In a press release posted on its X handle, the agency said there was no truth in the viral video suggesting that the widely used antibiotic had been withdrawn from the Nigerian market, stressing that no such regulatory action had been taken. “NAFDAC has not banned Amoxicillin in Nigeria, either secretly or openly,” the agency stated, adding that any regulatory action affecting…