Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Fawaz Adebisi The All Progressives Congress, APC, has dissociated itself from a notorious terrorist, Mohammed Bello Turji, dismissing claims circulating on social media that he was registered as a member of the party. In a press statement signed by the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka and issued on Tuesday in Abuja, the party described a viral “APC membership slip” bearing Turji’s name as fake and a deliberate fabrication aimed at misleading the public. According to Morka, the alleged membership details on the slip do not exist in its official database and are not linked to the ongoing Electronic Registration…

Fawaz Adebisi The Ibeto Seaport and Terminals Area Command of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Port Harcourt, has generated ₦12.38 billion in revenue within six months, a performance the Customs Area Controller, CAC, Comptroller Usman Yahaya, attributed to the effective deployment of the Unified Customs Management System, UCMS, also known as B’Odogwu. According to a press release issued on January 27, 2026, and signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Customs Tangwa Emmanuel, the revenue was collected between July and December 2025, marking the Command’s first six months of full operations. The release disclosed that a total…

The Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) has condemned the presidential pardon granted to Yoruba self-determination activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, describing it as a “grave miscarriage of justice” and a painful reminder of what it called the state’s failure to protect Fulani communities in Oyo State. In a statement on Tuesday, MACBAN’s South-West Zone said the decision had reopened old wounds from the violent clashes and attacks allegedly carried out against Fulani settlements between 2020 and 2021, warning that the pardon could deepen ethnic mistrust and weaken national unity. The statement, signed by…

No fewer than two residents were killed while several others sustained gunshot injuries after a helicopter believed to belong to the Nigerian Air Force allegedly opened fire on Kurgi community in Mariga Local Government Area of Niger State. Eyewitnesses said the incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when a surveillance helicopter flew into the area and hovered for several minutes before unleashing gunshots on civilians who were going about their normal activities. Residents told PLATFORM TIMES that women and children were among those affected, as the unexpected attack triggered panic and mass displacement, forcing many villagers to flee to neighbouring communities,…

State governments participating in a World Bank–supported reform programme have been given a 30-day deadline after every quarter to publish details of contracts awarded in basic education and primary healthcare, in a fresh push to deepen transparency and accountability in public spending. The directive was issued under the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE-GOV) Programme of the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, with compliance now tied directly to the disbursement of incentive funds to states. Speaking at the first 2026 Implementation Support Meeting with State Focal Persons, held virtually in Abuja on Monday, the National Coordinator…

The ASADE Royal Dynasty, on Saturday, held its 5th Annual Royal Day celebration amid pomp and pageantry at the Asade Royal Family Arcade Ground, drawing sons and daughters of the royal house from across Nigeria and the diaspora in a colourful display of unity, heritage and cultural pride. The event, which attracted family members from Ilaro, Ijoga Orile, Ikeja, Iba, Ogba and other parts of the country, also brought together traditional leaders, community stakeholders, friends and well-wishers, who lauded the dynasty’s consistency in promoting togetherness and preserving royal history. Cultural performances by Ajan Gbode, Igbe, Bolojo and Iyawole Adekanbi added…

Ogun State Muslims on Tuesday convened their first-ever General Assembly in Abeokuta, marking a major push to heal divisions within the Ummah and reposition Islamic institutions for unity, social relevance and sustainable development. The high-level gathering, organised by the League of Imams and Alfas, Ogun State, and powered by the Council of Muslim Titled Chiefs (COMTIC), drew over 500 clerics, scholars, traditional rulers, politicians and community leaders under the theme, “Synergy, Leadership and Development in the Muslim Ummah of Ogun State.” Speaking through his representative, former Dean, Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Prof. Abdulafeez Oladosu, the Registrar of the…

Muslim leaders and stakeholders in Ogun State have adopted a far-reaching 30-year Strategic Blueprint aimed at strengthening Islamic institutions, promoting unity and addressing longstanding socio-economic challenges confronting Muslims across the state. The resolution was reached at a high-level retreat organised by the Ogun State Muslim Council (OMC) on Sunday at the Olowu of Owu’s Palace, Abeokuta, where over 200 delegates representing more than 30 Islamic organisations from Egba, Ijebu, Remo and Yewa divisions converged to chart a new direction for the Council. The retreat, which marked a critical reflection on OMC’s three decades of existence, was convened to review a…

… Says Drug Abuse Triples Global Average In Nigeria … Lagos, Oyo, Ondo Among States With Highest Consumption Rates … 243 Users Rehabilitated, 62 convictions Secured In 2025 Daud Olatunji About 15 million Nigerians aged between 15 and 64 years are reported to use hard drugs, nearly three times the global average, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brigadier-General Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), has disclosed. Marwa revealed this during a visit to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in Akure, Ondo State, where he also presented comprehensive data on drug use, enforcement outcomes, and cannabis…

Lagos State authorities have intensified efforts to curb street begging and public nuisance, arresting 115 street beggars and securing the conviction of 26 members of the notorious “Omotaku” gang. The arrests and convictions, which took place on Monday, January 26, are part of ongoing enforcement operations across the state, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed in a statement on his X (formerly Twitter) handle. According to Wahab, the street beggars were apprehended at different locations during coordinated operations involving multiple government agencies. He further revealed that 26 suspected members of the “Omotaku” group, a gang…