Author: Platform Times Newspaper

… Hands Over Seized Arms, Cannabis Sativa To Police, NDLEA  Feyisayo Ogunbiyi  The Ogun Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Customs Service has issued a stern warning to smugglers operating along the Idi-Iroko border, as it recorded a remarkable revenue increase from N10.6 million in April to over N42 million in May 2025. This was disclosed on Thursday by the new Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Godwin Otunla, during his first press briefing since assuming office. Otunla attributed the sharp rise in revenue to a renewed commitment to enforcement and strategic realignment under his leadership. “Prior to my assumption of duty…

The Ogun State Government, in partnership with the Society for Family Health (SFH), has intensified advocacy for the adoption of family planning among women of reproductive age to reduce maternal mortality and promote child spacing. This call was made during the bi-annual review meeting of the Delivering Innovation in Self-Care (DISC 2.0) project held in Abeokuta, the state capital. The meeting brought together key stakeholders including health secretaries, reproductive health officers, health education officers, and monitoring and evaluation experts. Executive Secretary of the Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr Elijah Ogunsola, revealed that the government had sustained the…

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) has fired back at the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) over allegations of undue dominance by medical doctors in the nation’s health and education sectors, describing the claims as “unsavoury blackmail” and “emotional rhetoric.” NARD, in a statement jointly signed by its President, Dr. Osundara Tope, and Secretary-General, Dr. Odunbaku Kazeem Oluwasola, called on the pharmacists’ body to cease what it termed a campaign of “blackmail” and instead focus on meaningful contributions to patient care and health system improvement. The doctors’ response followed an open letter issued by the ACPN on…

By Ibraheem Shitta In a world divided by bombs and boundaries, one question pierces through the double-speak of global diplomacy: If some nations can have nuclear weapons, why not all, including those in Africa? It’s a question that exposes the deep fault lines of international power dynamics, where some countries hoard unimaginable destructive power, while others are threatened, sanctioned, or invaded for even thinking about it.Iran knows this story well. Accused of nuclear ambition, it remains without a single warhead, yet remains under intense scrutiny and pressure from nations that stockpile thousands. At the heart of the debate lies…

The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has raised the alarm over the persistent threats to Nigeria’s internal security, blaming the nation’s porous borders and the chronic underfunding of the police for the country’s fragile safety architecture. Speaking on Tuesday, Tunji-Ojo expressed deep concern over the insufficient budgetary allocation to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), which he said is responsible for guarding the country’s expansive 4,024km borders with just N10 billion. “Are we joking?” the minister asked rhetorically. “You want to protect over 4,000 square kilometres of border with N10 billion? If you kill one terrorist and the border remains porous,…

… 143 dead as fatality rate jumps to 18.9% across 18 states Nigeria has recorded a higher case fatality rate from Lassa fever infections in 2025 than in the same period last year, according to the latest data released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC). As of epidemiological week 23, a total of 143 deaths had been reported nationwide, with a case fatality rate (CFR) of 18.9 per cent—surpassing the 17.8 per cent recorded during the same period in 2024. The NCDC’s situation report indicated that 18 states across 96 Local Government Areas have confirmed…

Daud Olatunji A socio-cultural organisation, Tobade Progressive Club, has called on the Ogun State Government to urgently renovate the dilapidated MKO Abiola Primary School, Kemta Ilawo, in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Ogun State, describing the facility as a historical legacy that deserves urgent attention. The call was made during the commissioning of a newly constructed modern toilet facility at the school, donated by the club as part of its community development efforts. Speaking at the event, the President of Tobade Progressive Club, Chief Tunji Keshinro, said the gesture was in memory of the club’s late Grand  patron, Oba Abdul-Sobur…

Five Nigerian nationals have been sentenced to a total of 129 years in prison by a U.S. federal court for their roles in a complex $17 million international fraud syndicate that targeted over 100 victims, mostly elderly Americans. The convicted fraudsters — Damilola Kumapayi, Sandra Iribhogbe, Edgal Iribhogbe, Chidindu Okeke, and Chiagoziem Okeke — were found guilty of operating an elaborate web of deception involving romance scams, business email compromise (BEC), unemployment insurance fraud, and fake investment schemes. Delivering judgment on Monday, U.S. District Judge Amos Mazzant of the Eastern District of Texas handed down heavy sentences following the convicts’…

In Nigeria’s fast-scrolling digital world, memes are no longer just for laughs, they are part of the country’s political conversation. Whether poking fun at politicians, satirizing policy failures, or highlighting national frustrations, political memes have found a home in the timelines of millions of young Nigerians. But can a meme actually inspire someone to vote?A new study by communication researcher, Samuel Arowosafe suggests that the answer is both yes and no. While some memes, especially serious, issue-focused ones, have the power to boost political participation among young Nigerians, others may do little more than entertain. Even more interesting, the same…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has announced the commencement of free transportation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), diesel, and aviation fuel to marketers, petrol dealers, manufacturers, and other bulk consumers across Nigeria. The initiative, which will be executed using 4,000 newly procured Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)-powered tankers, aims to eliminate the cost of logistics for fuel delivery — a development experts believe will reduce pump prices, curtail inflation, and generate thousands of jobs. The company said the rollout will also benefit sectors such as aviation, telecommunications, and industrial manufacturing, as well as ensure steady product availability even in remote and underserved…