Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daud Olatunji The Senator Ibikunle Amosun (SIA) Movement in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of Ogun State has dumped the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), endorsing the party’s candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections. The movement endorsed Senator Iyabo Obasanjo for Ogun Central Senatorial District; Chief Toyin Amuzu for Abeokuta South Federal Constituency; Olufunbi Majekodunmi for Abeokuta South State Constituency I; and Adeoye Adewale Adeniran for Abeokuta South State Constituency II. The group’s leader in Abeokuta, Moshood Okanlawon Akinleye, popularly known as Americo, announced the decision, describing the movement’s experience in the APC as…

Furdaus Obiremi The traditional ruler of Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Afolabi Odidiomo, has raised the alarm over alleged contamination of the community’s source of drinking water following the crash of a Nigerian Air Force aircraft that killed 25 people. Odidiomo warned that decaying human remains and possible oil spills from the crashed aircraft could expose residents to serious health risks if urgent measures were not taken to assess and address the suspected pollution. The monarch called on the Federal Government and the Ondo State Government to urgently clean up the affected waterway, provide alternative sources…

Ayomide Awe Senate President Godswill Akpabio has opposed moves to decriminalise attempted suicide in Nigeria, insisting that people who survive suicide attempts should remain liable to imprisonment, despite the Senate passing a bill seeking to remove criminal penalties for the act through second reading. Akpabio made his position known during Tuesday’s plenary, where he warned that removing the punishment could encourage people to attempt suicide. “If you attempt suicide, make sure you die. Anyone who attempts and fails will go to jail,” the Senate President said. His position contrasts with arguments by several senators who supported the proposed legislation, insisting…

….Electoral commission gives aggrieved parties 14 days to report alleged wrongful omissions ….Supreme Court ruling on membership registers forms basis for exclusion of some parties Daud Olatunji The Independent National Electoral Commission has given political parties until October 24, 2026, to formally challenge the omission of their governorship candidates from the final list for the 2027 elections, amid growing tension within affected parties over the exclusion of some aspirants. The development has heightened concerns among party stakeholders, particularly in political camps affected by the omissions, as the October 24 deadline puts pressure on party leaders to determine their next line…

Daud  Olatunji The National Assembly has called for a comprehensive audit of Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft and an investigation into funds allocated for their maintenance following a military aircraft crash in Ondo State. The Senate and the House of Representatives made the demand on Tuesday, expressing concerns over recurring military aircraft accidents and the need to strengthen aviation safety, maintenance procedures and accountability within the military. The lawmakers said a thorough examination of the airworthiness of aircraft in the NAF fleet was necessary to establish their operational readiness and prevent future accidents. The Senate’s resolution followed a motion sponsored…

…Commission Introduces Electronic Verification to Block Non-Compliant Phones, Modems, PoS Terminals …NCC Assures Nigerians of Privacy, Says Device Checks Will Not Expose Personal Data Daud Olatunji The Nigerian Communications Commission has commenced electronic verification of SIM-enabled devices to identify and block fake, cloned and non-compliant phones, tablets, modems and Point-of-Sale terminals from connecting to telecommunications networks across the country. The commission said the initiative would strengthen device authentication, protect consumers from substandard telecommunications equipment and improve network reliability, while assuring Nigerians that the exercise would not expose their personal information to regulatory authorities. The Director of Technical Standards and Network…

Daud Olatunji The Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) has said that Artificial Intelligence (AI) can improve urban planning but cannot replace the professional expertise and human judgment required to design sustainable communities. The state chairman of the institute, Mr Olusola Odukoya, stated this on Tuesday in Abeokuta during a press conference to mark the 40th anniversary of the institute and outline its vision for the next four decades. Odukoya explained that although AI offered opportunities to improve planning processes, its effectiveness depended on the availability of accurate, location-specific data and the ability of professionals…

Nigeria has recorded 268 deaths from Lassa fever, with 1,138 confirmed cases reported across 119 Local Government Areas in 24 states, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). The latest figures indicate a case fatality rate of 23.6 per cent, higher than the 18.6 per cent recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, raising concerns over the continued impact of the viral disease. The figures were contained in the NCDC’s Lassa Fever Situation Report for epidemiological weeks 39 and 40, covering September 21 to October 4, 2026. According to the report, Bauchi, Ondo, Taraba, Benue and…

Daud Olatunji An additional 17.9 million Nigerians fell into multidimensional poverty between 2021 and 2024, the highest increase recorded by any country globally, a new report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) has revealed. The 2026 Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), published on Monday, showed that Nigeria’s earlier progress in reducing poverty between 2018 and 2021 was reversed within the subsequent three years, leaving millions more people struggling with overlapping deprivations in healthcare, education and basic living conditions. According to the report, Nigeria recorded a significantly higher increase in the…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has warned young Nigerian girls against sextortion, online blackmail and other cybercrime-related activities, cautioning them against allowing internet fraudsters to exploit their relationships and financial vulnerability. The commission also warned young women against allowing internet fraudsters, popularly known as Yahoo boys, to use their bank accounts for illicit transactions, stressing that such involvement could expose them to criminal prosecution and imprisonment. The EFCC Chairman, Ola Olukoyede, gave the warning in Abuja on Monday at an event organised by the African Girl Guild to commemorate the 2026 International Day of the Girl Child. The event…