Author: Platform Times Newspaper

No fewer than 54 residents of Gombe State have died from snake bites in 2025, the State Epidemiologist, Dr. Nuhu Bile, has disclosed. Dr. Bile made the revelation on Tuesday during the State Public Health Emergency Management Committee (S-PHEMC) meeting held in Gombe. The meeting, supported by UNICEF, was chaired by the State Deputy Governor, Mr. Manassah Jatau, who also serves as the Chairman of the PHEMC. According to Dr. Bile, 1,591 snake bite cases were recorded at the Snake Bite Hospital in Kaltungo this year, representing the lowest number in four years compared to 2,794 cases in 2022, 2,594…

A Cessna 172 aircraft operated by Skypower Express crash-landed Tuesday evening at Sam Mbakwe International Cargo Airport, Owerri, Imo State, after declaring an emergency mid-flight. The aircraft, bearing registration 5N-ASR, was en route from Kaduna International Airport to Port Harcourt International Airport when the crew requested an emergency diversion to Owerri. The plane went down in the approach area of Runway 17 around 8 p.m., but fortunately, all four passengers and crew on board survived. The Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau (NSIB) confirmed that there was no post-crash fire, and flight operations at the airport continued safely, with other aircraft taking…

.. Former AGF Faults Obasanjo’s Handling Of Deal  … Says Nigeria’s Interest Was Sidelined Grace Adeleye  Former Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has alleged that former President Olusegun Obasanjo revoked Oil Prospecting Licence 245 in July 2001 after the oil block’s owners refused to surrender a 60 per cent stake to interests linked to powerful figures within government. Adoke made the allegation on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of his book, OPL 245: The Inside Story of the $1.3bn Nigerian Oil Block, where he gave fresh details on the political intrigues behind one of Nigeria’s most…

… Cites Boko Haram Threat, 15 Other Countries Affected Daud Olatunji The United States has placed Nigeria on a list of countries facing partial travel restrictions, citing security challenges and high visa overstay rates, in a move that further strains diplomatic ties between both nations. The White House announced the decision on Tuesday in a presidential proclamation updating countries subject to full and partial travel suspensions. Nigeria was listed among 15 mostly African countries hit with partial restrictions. Others affected include Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Dominica, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Tonga, Zambia and Zimbabwe.…

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, has commended members of the Yoruba Nurses of North America (YORNNA) for their free healthcare scheme, describing the initiative as clear evidence that the much-criticised ‘Japa’ migration is now yielding positive returns for Nigeria. The monarch said the mass movement of Nigerians abroad, which gained momentum about four years ago, has translated into increased remittances, investments and humanitarian interventions that are adding value to the national economy and improving the wellbeing of citizens at the grassroots. Oba Gbadebo spoke on Tuesday at the Ake Palace, Abeokuta, during the flag-off of…

The House of Representatives has launched an urgent investigation into the prolonged detention of 11 Nigerian Air Force (NAF) personnel and a C-130 aircraft by Burkina Faso’s authorities. The lower chamber directed its relevant committees to work with security and diplomatic agencies to secure the swift release of the crew and aircraft. The probe followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Retired Air Vice Marshal Rufus Adeniyi Ojuawo, representing Ekiti South West/Ikere/Ise-Orun Federal Constituency, during Tuesday’s plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu. Burkina Faso’s military-led government, through the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), claimed that the…

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that it received a formal petition from billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote accusing the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of corruption and financial impropriety. ICPC spokesperson John Okor Odey, in a statement on Tuesday, said the commission will investigate the allegations thoroughly. “The ICPC writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today, Tuesday, 16th December 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer. The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed,” he said.…

Former First Lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has revealed that she has no intention of remarrying following the death of her husband, former President Muhammadu Buhari, as she turns her focus to family, philanthropy, and healthcare, according to a new book by journalist Niyi Omole. The book depicts Mrs Buhari’s post-presidency life as a deliberate retreat from the political spotlight, allowing her to pursue a quieter, more personal existence after decades of public scrutiny and political pressure. Omole noted that the former First Lady now spends more time with friends, associates, and her grandchildren, aiming to be an active presence in…

The Nigerian Society of Engineers has taken a major step towards operational efficiency and sustainability with the commissioning of a 6000W/10KWh solar-powered inverter system and an 18-seater Ford Transit bus for its Abeokuta Branch, PLATFORM TIMES reports. The projects were inaugurated on Tuesday at the branch secretariat, with the President of the NSE, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, leading the ceremony. The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Public Works, Babatunde Adesina, performed the symbolic tape-cutting for the solar installation. Oguntala described the newly commissioned assets as strategic investments aimed at strengthening the Society’s capacity, improving service delivery and promoting…

Aishah Waliyyulah  The Ogun State Teaching Service Commission has defended its newly introduced whistleblower policy, insisting that public secondary schools in the state have enough teachers but suffer from poor distribution, particularly between urban and rural areas. The TESCOM Chairman, Mr Abiodun Sanyaolu, said the policy was designed to strengthen discipline, accountability and real-time monitoring of teachers, not to witch-hunt staff, as critics have suggested. Sanyaolu spoke during an interaction with journalists, where he clarified that while the Ministry of Education is responsible for education policy and infrastructure, TESCOM remains the employer and regulator of secondary school teachers, with oversight…