Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Daniel Bwala, a special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on media and policy, has boasted that the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, will soon defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections. Bwala made the statement during an interview on TVC on Wednesday, asserting that Obi’s departure from the LP is imminent. “Do you know we are emptying the Labour Party? Not because we are asking them to come. Valentine Ozigbo has joined us, Balami has joined us, even Peter Obi will join us,” Bwala said. He further claimed that…

Feyi Ogunbiyi Former Rivers State Governor and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has downplayed fears of instability should the Rivers State House of Assembly move to impeach Governor Siminalayi Fubara, insisting that “nothing will happen” if such action is taken. Wike, speaking at a media parley in Abuja on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, said Fubara had allegedly committed impeachable offences, including withholding lawmakers’ salaries for months. He maintained that impeachment is a constitutional process and should not be seen as an anomaly. “If you have committed an offence to be impeached, what’s wrong? Is it a…

In February 2025, Nigeria’s crude oil production fell short of the OPEC quota, reflecting a downward trend in the country’s oil output. According to data analyzed by SaharaReporters, Nigeria produced 1.671 million barrels per day, inclusive of both blended and unblended condensates. This figure marks a decline from January 2025, when production stood at 1.737 million barrels per day. However, when considering only crude oil production excluding condensates, which aligns with OPEC quota calculations, Nigeria’s output was 1.465 million barrels per day in February 2025. This figure also represents a decrease from January’s production of 1.538 million barrels per day,…

The Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has ordered an immediate ban on the public parade of criminal suspects before the media, emphasizing the need to uphold fundamental human rights and align with global best policing practices. Egbetokun issued the directive on Tuesday through the Force Public Relations Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Olumuyiwa Adejobi, stating that the prohibition remains in force across all commands and formations of the Nigeria Police Force. According to the IGP, the decision is part of broader efforts to modernize policing in Nigeria and ensure that the dignity and rights of individuals—whether accused or not—are respected…

Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers has reiterated his resolve to implement the Supreme Court’s recent judgment on the political crisis in the state. Mr Fubara gave the assurance on Tuesday in Port Harcourt at the inauguration of Judges’ Quarters, a housing facility completed by his administration. The governor stated the housing facility was built for judges indigenous to Rivers either by birth or marriage. He said the well-being and interest of the state and its people remained paramount to his administration. “It has not been easy for 16 months, but what is important is the interest of our state, which…

President Bola Tinubu has expressed disappointment over the prolonged political crisis in Rivers State, attributing it to the misleading counsel Governor Siminalayi Fubara received from Rivers elders. This statement came during a meeting with PANDEF leaders on Tuesday, where Tinubu highlighted his ongoing efforts to resolve the crisis. The Supreme Court recently reinstated the Martin Amaewhule-led leadership of the Rivers State House of Assembly, overturning Governor Fubara’s appeal against the legitimacy of 27 assembly members aligned with FCT Minister Nyesom Wike. In response, the Assembly issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the submission of the 2025 appropriation bill, rejecting the governor’s…

The failure of the police command, to answer the audit query issued by the Nigerian Senate on missing firearms and its shady expenditure, against the backdrop of unabated security problems in the country, and the huge investment by the government to contain the menace, has left tongues wagging. Nigerians are beginning to question the commitment of the Nigerian Police to honor their oath to secure lives and property of Nigerians. Yet to talk of maintaining law and order in the civil sense! With insecurity as one single challenge that touches on everyday life of Nigerians, the presence of multi-dimensional criminal…

A 32-year-old woman has been arraigned before the Enugu North Magisterial District Court after giving a fake testimony in a Lagos church. In a statement on Tuesday, the Enugu Police Command’s spokesman, SP Daniel Ndukwe, said the suspect, Loveth Alo, was apprehended on February 1. According to the police spokesman, during interrogation, the suspect confessed to the crime and admitted that she acted alone. “She was arraigned on a five-count charge, including obtaining by false pretence with intent to defraud, defamation of character, and attempting to commit a felony. “Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department’s legal section were alerted…

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) says its operatives have sealed off several lounges, hotels, and churches over alleged noise pollution. NAN reports that Babatunde Ajayi, LASEPA’s general manager, in a statement, said the establishments were sealed due to persistent noise pollution and other environmental infractions. Ajayi said the enforcement drive focused on areas like Ogudu, Ojota, Apapa, and Alapere areas of Lagos. “The agency’s enforcement team carried out operations in various locations, targeting businesses and institutions that failed to comply with the state’s environmental regulations,” the statement reads. “As a result, several establishments including lounges, bars, hotels, religious…

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced that the airlifting of Nigerian pilgrims for the 2025 Hajj will commence on May 6. PLATFORM TIMES reports that NAHCON’s Commissioner of Operations, Inspectorate, and Licensing, Anofiu Elegushi, disclosed this on Monday during the signing of airlift agreements with four selected airlines—FlyNas, Air Peace, Max Air, and Umza Air Limited—at the Hajj House in Abuja. Elegushi stated that Saudi Arabia will open its airspace for incoming pilgrims on April 29, but Nigeria’s inaugural flight is scheduled for May 6 to align with the standard Hajj timeline. “According to information from the…