Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Federal Government has concluded arrangements with the Government of Ethiopia for the transfer of more than 100 Nigerian inmates serving various jail terms in Ethiopian correctional facilities, in a bilateral agreement aimed at easing prison congestion and strengthening consular protection for citizens abroad. The agreement, which is expected to be formally signed on Wednesday in Addis Ababa, will allow eligible Nigerian prisoners to be repatriated to serve the remainder of their sentences in Nigeria under a structured prisoner transfer framework. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who led the Nigerian delegation to the Ethiopian capital, confirmed the development,…

The Convener of the Ogun West Initiative, Olootu Bolaji Adeniji, has urged residents of Ogun State to rally behind the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, insisting that he will deliver “exponential growth, development and progress” if elected in 2027. Adeniji, who spoke at a media engagement in Abeokuta, said Adeola remains the “undisputed choice” for the office of governor, adding that his leadership credentials were built on years of service, dedication and measurable results rather than political sentiment. He disclosed that the APC candidate would soon present a detailed manifesto and economic blueprint to…

A proposal by Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, to introduce a single six-year tenure for Nigeria’s president and state governors has drawn sharp criticism from public affairs analysts and citizens, who described the move as a misplaced priority amid pressing national challenges. Bamidele had on Monday unveiled plans to sponsor a constitutional amendment bill seeking to replace the current two-term, four-year tenure system with a single, non-renewable six-year term. He said the bill would form part of his legislative agenda when lawmakers reconvene after the 2027 general elections. According to him, the proposal is aimed at curbing the distractions associated with…

A man, Ibrahim Tanko, has dragged his former fiancée, Abigail Hammam, and her mother, Hannatu, before an Upper Area Court in Mararaba Gurku, Abuja, over an alleged breach of agreement to formalise their marriage, amid a deepening custody dispute over their daughter. Tanko, in a suit filed before the court, accused the defendants of reneging on earlier commitments that would have culminated in a formal union, despite years of relationship and family-level discussions. According to the plaintiff, he met Hammam in 2012 and subsequently sought her hand in marriage. He said her mother granted conditional approval for the marriage rites,…

Bandits on Wednesday stormed Government Secondary School, Iluke Bunu, in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State, killing a vice principal and two others, while targeting students writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination. PLATFORM TIMES gathered that the assailants, who reportedly rode into the community on motorcycles around 9:45am, attacked examination centres where candidates from neighbouring communities had assembled for the ongoing WASSCE. Among those killed was the Vice Principal of Government Secondary School, Aharha-Bunu, Mr. Gani Anifowose. Two other victims — identified as Mr. Sunday Jacob Alhassan, 70, and a six-year-old boy, Sunday Ayele — were also…

The Federal Government says 1,859 Nigerian families across 25 states have accessed a total of N128 billion in housing loans under its expanded mortgage intervention scheme, as part of efforts to tackle the country’s deep housing deficit. President Bola Tinubu disclosed the development on Tuesday, noting that the beneficiaries obtained long-term mortgages through the MOFI Real Estate Investment Fund at a single-digit fixed interest rate of 9.75 per cent, repayable over 20 years. He said the intervention marks a major shift in housing finance accessibility, especially for middle- and low-income Nigerians who have long been locked out of formal mortgage…

The Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has declared that no individual or group has the authority to restrict his movement anywhere within the country, following renewed controversy over his visit to Ibadan, Oyo State, late last year. Gumi, who has recently faced public criticism and allegations bordering on attempts to promote “Islamisation” narratives in parts of the South-West, insisted that his presence in Ibadan was purely in a representative capacity and not at the invitation of any southern Muslim group or individual. In a statement posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday, the cleric said his visit to the ancient…

… Bill Targets End Of Re-election Politics, says Bamidele … Proposal To Be Prioritised By 11th National Assembly After 2027 Polls Daud Olatunji Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has disclosed that the incoming 11th Senate will consider a sweeping constitutional reform bill seeking to replace the current two-term system for presidents and state governors with a single six-year tenure after the 2027 general elections. Bamidele said the proposed legislation, which he intends to sponsor at the inauguration of the next National Assembly, is designed to reduce what he described as governance distractions linked to re-election politics and campaign cycles. Speaking in…

…Obi alleges reckless borrowing under Tinubu …Aides defend record, cite inherited obligations Daud Olatunji The controversy over Nigeria’s rising public debt intensified on Tuesday as former presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and the Federal Government traded fresh accusations over claims that the country’s debt profile has climbed to about ₦200tn. Obi accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of engaging in “reckless and unexplained borrowing,” insisting that Nigerians deserve full disclosure on how trillions of naira in loans have been spent amid worsening economic conditions. In a statement posted on his verified X handle, Obi alleged that Nigeria’s debt stock had…

Nigeria’s pension industry has recorded a major milestone, with total pension assets under management rising to over ₦32 trillion—about 10.4 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the National Pension Commission (National Pension Commission) has said. The development coincides with a four-member delegation from Kenya’s Retirement Benefits Authority (Retirement Benefits Authority), which is currently in Abuja on a technical study visit to understudy Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) framework and regulatory architecture. The Kenyan team, led by John Keah, Director of Market Conduct and Industry Development, is in Nigeria for a four-day engagement themed “Risk-Based Supervision and ESG…