Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Presidency on Sunday dismissed claims that President Bola Tinubu is plotting to turn Nigeria into a one-party state following a series of high-profile defections into the ruling All Progressives Congress. In a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Presidency described the allegations as “false, baseless, and exaggerated.” The development follows the recent defection of top opposition leaders, including Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his predecessor, Ifeanyi Okowa, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC. Several other PDP stalwarts in Delta, alongside chieftains of the New Nigerian Peoples…

No fewer than 902 Nigerians were deported from the United States between 2019 and 2024, a new report by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has revealed. According to the ICE 2024 annual report, Nigeria recorded the highest number of deportations among African countries within the six-year period, followed by Senegal, Ghana, Mauritania, and Egypt. A breakdown of the deportation figures shows that 286 Nigerians were deported in 2019, 199 in 2020, 78 in 2021, 49 in 2022, 152 in 2023, and 138 in 2024. Other African countries that witnessed significant deportations during the period include Senegal (761), Ghana…

Daud Olatunji Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State has suspended the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, following controversies surrounding the recent death caused by Lassa Fever in the state, PLATFORM TIMES has exclusively gathered. Findings by PLATFORM TIMES revealed that Coker’s suspension, which took effect about three weeks ago, was initially meant to last one month. However, the situation has continued to escalate, as internal forces, described by insiders as a “cabal” within the government, have reportedly blocked several high-level interventions aimed at resolving the matter. A top source familiar with the development said Coker’s travails began after she…

…Says Devil Took Over Him, Seeks Apology …Forgiveness Is from Allah – Religious Leaders Daud Olatunji Veteran radio anchor Ibrahim Adesola Aremu, popularly known as Akamara, on Saturday, retracted in its entirety a viral series of voice notes accusing one Alhaji Owokomago of collecting pilgrims’ Ihram cloths for ritual purposes. Speaking at a reconciliation meeting convened by the Wakeelul Muslimeen of Yoruba Land (Edo and Delta), Sheik Iskeel Lawal Sugar, the broadcaster admitted that “all the phone call conversations were staged” and pleaded for forgiveness from both religious authorities and Allah. Akamara, who has been on air for nearly 35…

Daud Olatunji Over three months after a devastating rainstorm wrecked Moslem Comprehensive High School, Imepe, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, the pupils have been left stranded without classrooms, with no government intervention in sight. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, January 26, 2025, destroyed key structures of the school, exposing hundreds of students to danger and interrupting their education. Despite public outcry, Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration has yet to commence any reconstruction or rehabilitation work on the premises. Civic technology platform, Monitng, raised the alarm on Saturday, decrying the abandonment of the students and warning of the grave risks they now…

An explosion suspected to have been triggered by illegally refined petroleum products has claimed the lives of five persons, including four women, in Omoku, headquarters of Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area of Rivers State. The incident, which occurred around 11am on Saturday, was confirmed by the Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) and the One Million Youth Volunteers Network. Executive Director of YEAC-Nigeria, Dr Fyneface Dumnamene, in a statement, said the explosion took place in a residential building where illegally refined petroleum products, including condensate, were being stored for resale. He said, “The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has received…

Daud Olatunji  No fewer than 4,013 individuals were killed while 3,561 others were kidnapped across Nigeria between January 2 and April 22, 2025, a new report by Beacon Consulting has revealed. The firm, which tracks insecurity trends across the country, said Northern Nigeria continues to bear the heaviest burden, accounting for 79 per cent of all reported incidents during the period under review. According to the data, the North West was the epicentre of the violence, responsible for 37 per cent of the total incidents, with 1,095 recorded attacks. The region also witnessed the highest number of casualties, with 1,642…

No fewer than five children have died while several others are currently hospitalised following a measles outbreak that has unsettled the Unguwar Kanawa community in the Zaria Local Government Area of Kaduna State. The Village Head of Unguwar Kanawa, Nasiru Yunusa, who confirmed the development, disclosed that two children from the same family died just a week ago. Speaking with journalists, Yunusa attributed the outbreak to vaccine hesitancy, noting that many parents initially refused to vaccinate their children due to widespread misconceptions about immunisation. “Two-thirds of our people didn’t like vaccinating their children due to misconceptions,” he said. “But now,…

The Oyo State Police Command on Saturday said it has uncovered a human trafficking syndicate in Ibadan, rescuing its 83 victims. The police public relations officer, Adewale Osifeso, disclosed this to journalists in Ibadan. Mr Osifeso said the rescued victims comprised 57 males and 26 females, including an infant. He, however, said further investigation into the incident was ongoing, promising to update the public accordingly. It was gathered that the victims were rescued from a residential building in the Orogun area of Ibadan, where they had allegedly been held for an undisclosed period. According to an anonymous source, the victims,…

The Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has directed a total crackdown on unregistered hospitals and quack medical personnel operating in the FCT. Lere Olayinka, the minister’s media aide, said on Saturday that Mr Wike gave the directive while reacting to the death of a pregnant woman at a private health facility in Durumi, Abuja, after a caesarean section. According to him, the minister has warned that anyone operating an illegal facility or working in an unregistered health facility should be arrested and prosecuted. He said it was unfortunate that, despite the free registration of pregnant women in…