Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Nigeria has emerged as the country with the highest number of asylum seekers in Ireland, even as the European nation records a sharp decline in overall applications. According to Ireland’s Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, a total of 7,207 asylum applications were received between January and July 2025. This represents a 42 percent drop from the 12,236 applications lodged within the same period in 2024. Despite the reduction, Nigerians accounted for the highest number of applications — 1,083, ahead of Pakistan (945), Somalia (933), Afghanistan (767), and Georgia (462). The report, released in August, further showed that 1,164…

Former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, has called on the people of the South-East to prioritise voter registration, warning that the region is lagging behind in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise. El-Rufai made the appeal on Saturday while speaking at an event in Imo State, where he particularly urged women to take the lead in mobilising their children and communities to register ahead of the 2027 general elections. He emphasised that voter registration is a civic responsibility rather than a political choice, stressing that the democratic system thrives on citizens’ participation in the electoral process. “Governance in our…

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has assured Nigerians that there is no confirmed case of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the country, despite reports of a fresh outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The agency issued the clarification on Saturday following an announcement by DRC’s Ministry of Health that at least 28 suspected cases and 15 deaths, including four health workers, have been recorded in Kasai Province as of September 4, 2025. Laboratory tests conducted in Kinshasa confirmed the Ebola Zaire strain as the cause of the outbreak. In a public health advisory, the…

The Kano State Police Command has arrested nine suspects following a violent mob attack on the Garko Divisional Police Headquarters that left officers injured, vehicles destroyed, and one person dead. The incident, which occurred on Friday, September 5, 2025, broke out after officers from the Wudil Area Command brought three suspects linked to a culpable homicide case to the division for interrogation. According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna Kiyawa, an angry crowd armed with sticks and stones stormed the station, demanding jungle justice against the suspects. The mob vandalised the…

The Super Eagles of Nigeria on Saturday rekindled their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification chances with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Rwanda at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. After a goalless and frustrating first half in which Napoli striker Victor Osimhen was forced off due to injury, substitute Tolu Arokodare became Nigeria’s hero when he broke the deadlock in the 51st minute, just five minutes after replacing the injured forward. The result lifted Nigeria to third place in Group D with 10 points from seven matches, trailing leaders South Africa who have 16 points, and Benin…

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has confirmed that no fewer than 231 people have lost their lives while 607 others sustained varying degrees of injuries in the devastating floods that have swept across Nigeria in 2025. According to the latest flood dashboard released by the agency on Saturday, 114 persons are still missing, while 315,762 people across 86 Local Government Areas in 25 states have been affected. The data further revealed that 113,367 residents have been displaced, with 40,493 houses destroyed and 46,304 farmlands submerged, raising fears of worsening food insecurity. Lagos, Adamawa, and Akwa Ibom emerged as the…

Eleven medical students from Babcock University’s Benjamin S. Carson College of Health and Medical Sciences have distinguished themselves at the 2025 Consortium of New Sub-Saharan African Medical Schools (CONSAMS) Conference, held at the Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya. The students – Ugwuagbo Stephanie Nmesoma, Winifred Fagbenro Olajumoke, Onasanya Toluwalase Esther, Aina Itunuoluwa Itohan, Davies Fehintolaoluwa Emuobo-Esiri, Alalade Olorunwa Barnabas, Eziokwu Benita Dabeluchukwu, Umeh-Kenneth Mirabel Chinecherem, Ojichukwujife Lawrence Chuka-Utazi, Oluwatobiloba Aweda, and Samuel Ayomide – presented 12 abstracts addressing critical health issues across Africa. Their research covered diverse areas including artificial intelligence in healthcare, planetary health, antimicrobial resistance, medical education reform,…

The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) has strengthened professional banking education in Nigeria with the commissioning of the Bankers Hall at Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State. The 160-seater, fully digitalised facility—an endowment project of the institute—was unveiled on August 28 at the university’s main campus during a ceremony attended by top dignitaries. Notable guests at the event included the Ogun State Commissioner for Transport, Engr. Olugbenga Dairo; CIBN President, Prof. Pius Olanrewaju; the institute’s second Vice President, Mrs. Mojisola Bakare-Asieru; Registrar/CEO, Mr. Akin Morakinyo, as well as the Olofin of Ilishan, Oba Mojeed Sonuga. Speaking at the commissioning,…

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, has called for collective action to tackle persistent disruptions in public health service delivery and ensure equitable access to healthcare for all Nigerians. Speaking at a public health conference hosted by Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Dr. Salako stressed the urgent need for innovation and resilience in addressing the challenges facing healthcare systems in sub-Saharan Africa. Delivering his keynote address titled “Bridging Service Delivery Disruption in Public Health: A Critical Imperative for Our Future,” the minister warned that health service disruptions were not mere statistics but carried…

Former Sokoto State governor and ex-Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has declared his preference for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, in any future national leadership contest. Speaking on Politics Today on Friday, Tambuwal said his political alignment is guided by principles of governance and leadership rather than personal relationships. “When it comes to the leadership of this country and the leadership of the people, tomorrow, not even today, I would rather support Atiku than Nyesom Wike,” he said. The disclosure comes against the backdrop of a…