Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Water drilling professionals have raised concerns over the increasing depth required to access groundwater in Nigeria, warning that the trend signals growing pressure on water resources and lapses in industry regulation. The concerns were highlighted on Tuesday, during the inauguration of the Ogun State executives of the Association of Waterwell Drillers, Rig Owners and Practitioners (AWDROP), held at the Nigerian Union of Pensioners Hall, Lukosi, Abeokuta. The event, themed “Strengthening the Water Industry Through Visionary Leadership,” brought together stakeholders, including representatives of the Ogun State Ministry of Environment, industry experts and development partners. In his keynote address titled “Professionalising the…

The Kayshow Multimedia Film and Media Organisation has announced the 2026 edition of its annual Abeokuta Film Festival, scheduled to hold at the Ake Palace Pavilion, Abeokuta, with a free film screening and youth empowerment programme. The event, themed around cultural renaissance and creative industry development, has received the endorsement of the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Ọba Michael Adedotun Arẹmu Gbadebo, who approved the inclusion of a free training programme for Egba youths in film production and the arts. According to the organisers, the festival—tagged Abeokuta Film Festival 2.0—will also feature a free public film show aimed at…

The political crisis in Rivers State deepened on Monday as a suit was filed before a Federal High Court in Abuja seeking to stop Kingsley Chinda from contesting the 2027 governorship election under the All Progressives Congress. The suit also urged the court to restrain the Independent National Electoral Commission from recognising Chinda as the party’s candidate, citing alleged constitutional breaches arising from his defection. Chinda, who currently serves as Minority Leader of the House of Representatives on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, recently emerged as the APC governorship candidate in Rivers State following a primary election held…

RouterCall Communications has launched upgraded global communication services, including enhanced SIP trunking and integrated Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, in a move aimed at improving business connectivity and reducing operational costs. The firm said the development would enable multinational companies, small and medium-scale enterprises, and other corporate organisations to achieve more reliable, flexible, and cost-efficient communication systems. Speaking on the announcement, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Akindele, said the new offerings reflected the changing nature of workplace communication and the need for seamless global interaction. He said, “The way businesses communicate is fundamentally changing, and we are at the forefront of…

A warrant officer of the Nigerian Navy, identified as Yusuf M.O., has reportedly died following an alleged punitive action ordered by her superior at a naval medical facility in Lagos. The incident was said to have occurred at the Nigerian Navy Sick Bay located in Gowon Estate, Ipaja area of Alimosho Local Government Area. PLATFORM TIMES gathered from sources familiar with the matter that the deceased officer was absent from duty on May 19, 2026, but resumed the following day. Upon her return, she was reportedly confronted by her immediate superior, identified as Lt. Commander S.T. Abashim, over her absence.…

The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday ruled that former President, Goodluck Jonathan, is eligible to contest the 2027 presidential election, dismissing a suit seeking to bar him from the race. Delivering judgment, Justice Peter Lifu held that Jonathan’s participation in the forthcoming election would not violate the provisions of the 1999 Constitution. The suit, filed by a lawyer, Johnmary Jideobi, had sought an order restraining the former president from presenting himself as a candidate and stopping the Independent National Electoral Commission from accepting or publishing his name. Jideobi had asked the court to determine whether Jonathan, having taken…

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Monday Ubani, has accused state governments of undermining grassroots development by allegedly diverting and withholding funds meant for local government councils, warning that the practice is deepening poverty in rural communities. Ubani, who spoke during an interview on Frontline, a current affairs programme on Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese-Ijebu, said the persistent hardship across rural Nigeria was not incidental but a direct consequence of systemic interference in the disbursement of statutory allocations to local governments. The legal practitioner and immediate past Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Section on Public Interest and Development Law stated…

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has approached the Court of Appeal seeking to overturn a Federal High Court judgment that nullified its revised timetable and schedule of activities for the 2027 general elections. The commission also filed a motion for stay of execution of the ruling, asking the appellate court to suspend the effect of the judgment delivered on May 20 by Justice Mohammed Umar of the Federal High Court, Abuja, pending the determination of its appeal. In the notice of appeal, dated and filed on May 25 through its counsel, Alex Izinyon, SAN, INEC raised nine grounds, arguing…

A former Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to ex–Vice President Namadi Sambo, Umar Sani, has claimed that former President Goodluck Jonathan has already obtained the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential nomination form ahead of the 2027 general elections. Sani, a chieftain of the PDP, made the assertion during an interview on Trust TV on Tuesday, amid growing political speculation over Jonathan’s possible return to active partisan politics nearly 12 years after leaving office. According to him, the former president has not only acquired the form but is also preparing to publicly submit it in due course. “In politics,…

… Two Suspects Arrested As Security Agencies Probe Cross-Border Supply Chains  … Authorities Raise Alarm Over Rising Use Of Military Gear By Criminal Network Daud Olatunji Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service have intercepted a luxury passenger bus conveying a large consignment of illicit drugs and military camouflage uniforms along the Sagamu–Ore–Benin Expressway in Ogun State, in an operation that has further exposed growing security vulnerabilities across the South-West. The interception, carried out in the early hours of Sunday at about 1:30 a.m., led to the arrest of two suspects and the recovery of prohibited items concealed within an unregistered…