Author: Platform Times Newspaper

Operatives of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, have intercepted a major wildlife trafficking attempt involving over 1,620 endangered birds destined for illegal export to Kuwait. The Area Controller, Comptroller Michael Awe, confirmed the seizure on Monday in Lagos, describing it as a significant breakthrough in the fight against illicit wildlife trade. According to Awe, the birds—comprising Ringneck Parakeets and Canaries—were discovered by vigilant customs officers at the airport’s cargo control post on July 31. He said the shipment was being transported without the mandatory Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) permit, a clear violation…

  Tension gripped the Niger State Government House on Friday evening after a man, simply identified as Gregory, collapsed and died during a visit to one of the official residences within the premises in Minna. The incident occurred at House No. 8 in the Government House Lodge around 9:30 p.m. on August 2. Gregory was said to have arrived at the location to meet the Chairman of the Niger Food Security Systems and Logistics Company Limited, Sammy Adigun. Sources told PLATFORM TIMES that Gregory appeared visibly distressed upon learning that his host was not available. Moments later, he reportedly collapsed…

Tension has gripped residents of Ado-Ekiti following the disappearance of a newborn baby just hours after birth at the Okeyimi Health Centre, prompting the police to arrest and detain four hospital workers. The incident, which occurred on Sunday night, has raised alarm over possible foul play within the health facility. The baby, delivered around 8pm, was reported missing the following morning, according to the Ekiti State Police Command. Confirming the development on Monday, police spokesperson DSP Sunday Abutu disclosed that medical personnel on duty, security staff, and other individuals linked to the incident are currently being interrogated. “The Commissioner of…

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), declaring that the party must reverse what he described as “injustice and impunity” before proceeding with its planned national convention in November. Speaking during his monthly media chat on Sunday, Wike called for the immediate reinstatement of Chief Dan Orbih as the party’s National Vice Chairman (South-South), insisting that the outcome of the South-South zonal congress held in Calabar must be respected. “The Calabar congress was duly conducted and must stand. Dan Orbih remains the authentic…

A  fresh  and serious crisis is brewing within the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as a group of state chairmen under the banner of “Concerned State Chairmen of ADC” has rejected what it described as an illegal takeover of the party by a coalition of high-profile politicians led by former Senate President, David Mark. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the group’s Publicity Secretary, Godwin Alaku, described the adoption of the ADC by opposition figures as “a civilian coup and a reckless subversion of democratic ideals.” He insisted the party was not for sale, nor available to be…

The Olubadan-in-Council has officially nominated Senator Rashidi Ladoja, a former governor of Oyo State and prominent Ibadan high chief, as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland. The decision was reached on Monday during a meeting held at the Oke-Aremo Palace, where all 11 senior chiefs in the Olubadan succession line—including Ladoja himself—unanimously endorsed his nomination. Speaking after the meeting, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, confirmed that the council’s resolution would be forwarded to Governor Seyi Makinde for formal approval and the presentation of the staff of office. “We have completed our internal processes in accordance with Ibadan chieftaincy customs,”…

The United States Embassy in Nigeria has issued a stern warning to Nigerian students in the U.S., cautioning that their visas may be revoked if they drop out of school, skip classes, or abandon their academic programs. The embassy, in a public advisory posted via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle on Monday, emphasized that adherence to student visa regulations is mandatory. Any breach, it warned, could lead to not only the revocation of the visa but also the loss of eligibility for future visa applications. “If you drop out, skip classes, or leave your program of study without informing…

The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has officially inaugurated its campaign council for Hon. Bolarinwa Oluwole, the party’s candidate in the upcoming by-election for the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency. The by-election, slated for Saturday, August 16, follows the death of Hon. Adewunmi Oriyomi Onanuga, the late Deputy Chief Whip of the House of Representatives, who passed away in January after a brief illness. Speaking at the campaign council’s inauguration on Monday at the Akarigbo Palace in Sagamu, the PDP governorship candidate in the 2023 general elections, Hon. Ladi Adebutu, rallied party members and supporters to deliver…

A new travel company, Grandeur Signature Travel & Tours, has launched a heritage tourism initiative with a train tour from Lagos to Abeokuta, aimed at promoting Nigeria’s cultural history and boosting domestic tourism. The one-day tour, which marked the official debut of the company, took tourists to major historical sites in the Ogun State capital, including Olumo Rock, Alake’s Palace, the Centenary Hall, the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, and Itoku Market, famous for its traditional adire fabric. The founder of the firm, Prince Yemisi Adedoyin Shyllon, said the goal of the project is to deepen cultural awareness among Nigerians and…

In a time when identity is fluid and cultures are quickly dissolving into a global blend, there is a silent crisis unfolding among African children and families — a crisis of disconnection, of loss, and of cultural amnesia. It’s a crisis that has left many children struggling to define who they are, where they come from, or what values they represent. In 2025, a group of concerned educators, parents, creatives, and nation-builders are taking a stand — not with outrage, but with purpose, pride, and proactive strategy. Welcome to the ROOTED Conference — a groundbreaking cultural and identity experience that…