Author: Platform Times Newspaper

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) has clashed over fresh allegations of financial misappropriation to the tune of ₦234 billion leveled against the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, with a fierce rebuttal coming from a long-standing police accountability group. The controversy, which erupted during a roundtable on Police Reform and Accountability held in Abuja on Tuesday, has seen the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA) accuse IGP Egbetokun of financial misconduct involving budgetary allocations, suspicious contract awards, and questionable disposal of police assets. PAACA’s Executive Director, Ezenwa Nwagwu, said the organisation had submitted a petition to…

Daud Olatunji The tragic helicopter crash that claimed the lives of Herbert Wigwe, his wife Doreen, their son Chizi, and business magnate Abimbola Ogunbanjo in February 2024 has been attributed to a combination of pilot disorientation and the helicopter company’s negligence, according to the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in its final investigation report. The incident, which occurred on February 9, 2024, near the Nevada border in California, resulted in the death of all six passengers aboard the helicopter registered N130CZ. Among the victims were Herbert Wigwe, the former Group Chief Executive Officer of Access Holdings Plc, and Ogunbanjo,…

Former Anambra State governor and Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr. Peter Obi, has decried the alarming decline in Nigeria’s education standards, describing the recently released 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results as a stark indicator of systemic failure in the sector. Obi, who made his position known via a statement shared on his verified social media account, said the dismal performance of candidates reflects the long-standing neglect and chronic underfunding of education in the country. According to official figures released by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), out of the 1,955,069 candidates who…

The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), His Eminence Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni, has felicitated with the Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Abdul-Ganiyy AbuBakr Agbotomokekere, as he clocked 90 years on Monday, May 5, 2025. In a congratulatory message issued by the Media Team of the Sultanate Council on Tuesday, May 6, the Sultan commended the cleric’s lifelong commitment to Islam and humanity. He described the nonagenarian as a spiritual pillar whose service has impacted generations of faithful in the South West and beyond. Sheikh Agbotomokekere, who also serves as…

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, has attributed the widespread failure recorded in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to the federal government’s intensified crackdown on examination malpractice. Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, Alausa insisted that the poor performance of candidates in the latest UTME was not due to a decline in student intelligence, but rather a result of stricter exam protocols that have significantly curbed cheating. “What you’re seeing is a reflection of exams being done the proper way,” the minister said. “JAMB has put in place so much security that fraud or cheating has…

In a major political shake-up ahead of the Edo governorship election, the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, alongside 17 local government chairmen, dozens of councillors, and other top members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC). The high-profile defections took place on Monday during a well-attended ceremony in Benin City, where the defectors were formally received into the APC fold by the party’s National Secretary, Senator Ajibola Bashiru, and Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo. The development is seen as a significant boost for the ruling…

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has raised a fresh alarm over Nigeria’s deepening child malnutrition crisis, revealing that an estimated two million children in the country are suffering from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) — the highest burden in Africa and the second highest globally. According to a statement posted on the agency’s website on Tuesday, only two out of every 10 Nigerian children suffering from the life-threatening condition currently receive any form of treatment, leaving the vast majority without critical care. “Nigeria has the second highest burden of stunted children in the world, with a national prevalence rate of…

Feyisayo Ogunbiyi The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that an estimated 354 million people across the globe are currently living with hepatitis B and C viruses, with treatment coverage still alarmingly low, especially in developing regions. According to WHO’s latest update, hepatitis B virus (HBV) affects approximately 250 million people, while hepatitis C virus (HCV) impacts 50 million. The report underscores a dire public health challenge, as hepatitis-related deaths reached 1.3 million globally in 2022—83% linked to HBV and 17% to HCV. Despite being discovered decades ago—HBV in 1965 by American physician Baruch S. Blumberg, and HCV in 1989…

Renowned stand-up comedian and on-air personality, Josef Dapreacher, popularly known as JDP, is set to light up Abeokuta once again as he announces the third edition of his highly acclaimed comedy show, LAFFTA CHAPTER 3.0. The event, scheduled to hold on August 31, 2025, at the prestigious Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, Ogun State, promises an evening of unfiltered laughter, music, and top-tier entertainment. JDP, whose full name is Oluwatisin Joseph, is a celebrated figure in Nigeria’s comedy and entertainment landscape. Beyond his prowess on stage as a comedian and Master of Ceremonies, he is also a familiar voice…

A newlywed bride, identified as Saudat, has been arrested by security operatives in Kano State for allegedly stabbing her husband, Salisu, to death just nine days after their wedding. The tragic incident occurred in the Farawa community of the state, throwing residents into shock and sparking outrage. According to reports, the couple had tied the knot on Sunday, April 27, 2025, in a marriage reportedly arranged by their families. Sources within the community disclosed that the late Salisu had initially expressed reservations about the union but was persuaded by relatives to proceed with the marriage. The relationship, however, was said…