Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Sagamu Orientation Camp in Ogun State was a hub of colours, rhythms, and cultural pride as the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) hosted a vibrant Cultural Carnival to mark the 2024 Batch C Stream One Orientation Course. Sponsored by Source Microfinance Bank and Mega Thandi Restaurant, the event celebrated Nigeria’s rich cultural heritage and diversity through the creativity and passion of Corps Members. The NYSC Ogun State Coordinator, Mrs. Olayinka Diana Nasamu, officially opened the carnival with a call to unity, urging Corps Members to embrace the beauty in Nigeria’s cultural diversity. “There is beauty in our diversity,” she…

The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has expressed deep dissatisfaction with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, citing regrets from northern Nigeria for supporting him in the 2023 elections. In a statement by AYCF President, Alhaji Shettima Yerima, the group warned that the North might oppose Tinubu’s reelection bid in 2027 unless significant changes are made to improve the country’s socio-economic conditions. Yerima highlighted the growing anger among northerners, who feel let down by the president’s performance, particularly given the high expectations placed on him to address pressing issues like insecurity and economic hardship. Reflecting on Tinubu’s leadership, Yerima noted that the…

Sunusi Dawakin Tofa, the Director General of Media and Communication to Kano State Governor Abba Yusuf, has disclosed how he hid in the Government House for five days to avoid arrest by the police. Speaking at the PR Nigeria Young Communication Fellowship event in Kano on Saturday, Tofa claimed that the Inspector General of Police’s Monitoring Team had deployed at least 40 officers to the state to apprehend him. Tofa explained that he sought refuge in the Government House because of its constitutional immunity, which prohibits arrests on the premises without the governor’s explicit authorization. He added that he had…

Nigerian military troops have destroyed camps belonging to a newly-formed terrorist group, Lakurawa, in Katsina and Zamfara states, marking a significant breakthrough in the fight against insurgency in the North-West region. The operation, tagged Operation Chase Lakurawa Out, was launched a week ago in response to the group’s activities in the Jibia area of Katsina State and Tsafe in Zamfara State. The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, deployed specialised troops to reinforce ongoing operations, with the Defence and Special Operations Brigade joining local forces to sustain the offensive. Speaking to journalists in Sokoto on Friday, the General Officer…

A Lieutenant in the Nigerian Army has been arrested for allegedly engaging in homosexual acts and molesting junior colleagues in Bama, Borno State. Military sources confirmed the arrest of the officer, identified simply as Lieutenant Abubakar, by the military police under the 7th Division of the Nigerian Army. He was reportedly caught in the act last month. According to sources, several junior soldiers accused the Lieutenant of molestation and non-consensual same-sex acts, alleging that the behavior had persisted for a long time. “A serving officer was last month arrested while engaging in forceful homosexual acts with his junior colleagues in…

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has issued a stern warning to financial institutions involved in the illegal distribution of newly minted naira notes, imposing a hefty fine of N150 million per offending branch. The apex bank’s warning was contained in a circular signed by the Acting Director of Currency Operations, Solaja Olayemi, who expressed concern over the diversion of fresh banknotes to currency hawkers and unscrupulous agents. The CBN described the practice as a threat to the equitable distribution of cash to bank customers and the general public. “Any deposit money bank or financial institution found culpable of facilitating,…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has refuted claims circulating on social media that its chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, has died in a London hospital. In a press statement issued on Saturday, December 14, 2024, by Mr. Rotimi Oyekanmi, Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, the Commission described the rumour, which emerged on Monday, December 9, 2024, as fake news aimed at misleading the public. The statement affirmed that Prof. Yakubu is alive, hale, and hearty, adding that he has not travelled to London in the past two years. It further noted that the chairman participated in an interactive…

Daud Olatunji The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has sounded the alarm over the Nigeria Tax Bill (NTB) 2024, currently under review by the National Assembly, describing it as a threat to the survival of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund). ASUU, in a press release signed by its President, Emmanuel Osodeke, expressed grave concerns over the potential abrogation of the Education Tax, a critical funding source for TETFund, and called for decisive intervention by lawmakers. The proposed tax regime, as outlined in Section 59(3) of the bill, allocates only 50% of the Education Tax (referred to as the…

The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has strongly refuted allegations that it disbursed N325 million to the Adamawa State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to finance the party’s activities. The claim, made by the APC Woman Leader in Adamawa State, Mrs. Patricia Yakubu, alleged that TETFund had been paying the party N25 million monthly since October 2023, a sum reportedly used for running party affairs within and outside the state. In a petition addressed to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, Mrs. Yakubu accused the state party leadership of misappropriating party funds amounting to N500 million. She…

Despite registering over 500 million children under the age of five in the last five years, about 150 million children remain unregistered, rendering them invisible to government systems, a new United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report reveals. The report, titled “Right Start in Life: Global Levels and Trends in Birth Registration,” highlights progress in securing legal identities for children worldwide but underscores persistent gaps, especially in low-income regions. According to UNICEF, while global birth registration rates have improved from 75 percent in 2019 to 77 percent in 2024, disparities remain stark. Sub-Saharan Africa trails behind with only 51 percent of…