Author: Platform Times Newspaper

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…

The Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has confirmed that investigations into sixteen serving military officers, previously detained over acts of indiscipline, have been concluded, with some implicated in an alleged plot to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. In a statement issued on Monday and signed by Major General Samaila Uba, Director of Defence Information, the Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) said the findings had been forwarded to relevant superior authorities in accordance with military regulations. “It would be recalled that the Defence Headquarters issued a press statement in October 2025 regarding the arrest of sixteen officers over acts of indiscipline and…

Employees in Nigeria’s alcohol manufacturing sector on Monday intensified opposition to the Federal Government’s ban on sachet alcoholic drinks and PET bottles below 200 millilitres, warning that they would mobilise a nationwide protest if the policy is not reversed. The workers, under the aegis of the Food, Beverages and Tobacco Senior Staff Association and the National Union of Food, Beverages and Tobacco Employees, stormed the Lagos office of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway for the second time in four days, carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs. The unions said the ban…

Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently intervene and order the release of the state’s withheld local government allocations, warning that workers across the councils are “suffering severely” as the crisis drags on. In a statewide broadcast on Monday, Adeleke said the continued seizure of the funds has crippled grassroots governance and pushed his administration into unsustainable borrowing to keep essential workers  including primary school teachers, health workers and council staff — on the payroll. “The situation is becoming unbearable. Local government allocations are the lifeline for teachers, nurses, traditional councils and retirees.…