Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Benue State Government has moved to halt a proposed visit by the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, to Internally Displaced Persons’ camps in the state, in what insiders describe as a politically charged decision linked to ongoing speculations about Governor Hyacinth Alia’s alleged plan to dump the All Progressives Congress. Obi, who has in recent months intensified humanitarian outreach to victims of violence across Nigeria, was reportedly scheduled to visit several IDP camps in Benue. The former Anambra State governor had earlier undertaken similar visits to Plateau, Southern Kaduna and Nasarawa, where he donated relief materials and…

A Chief Magistrate in Rivers State, Ejike George, has resigned from the judiciary in protest against the recent appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the state. In a letter dated April 11, 2025, and addressed to the Chief Judge of Rivers State through the secretary of the state Judicial Service Commission, George described the development as “troubling” and likened it to a “quasi-military administration”. “This present is intended to convey my decision to voluntarily retire my appointment as magistrate of the judiciary of Rivers State,” he wrote in the letter titled ‘Voluntary Retirement from Service’. George, who served 16…

Controversial Nigerian singer, Okikiola Badmus, popularly known as Portable, has been remanded at the Oke Kura Correctional Centre in Ilorin, Kwara State, after failing to meet the stringent bail conditions imposed by an Upper Area Court. The singer, famed for his hit track Zazoo Zeh, was arraigned on Monday following a complaint of defamation of character filed against him by veteran Fuji musician, Akorede Saheed, popularly known as Saheed Osupa. Portable, who was earlier arrested by the police, was granted bail in the sum of N1 million. The court, however, attached tough conditions to the bail, including the provision of…

The Kwara Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) says eight out of the 1,800 persons shortlisted for teaching jobs have tested positive for outlawed drugs. A statement from TESCOM Press Secretary, Sam Onile, on Monday in Ilorin said they have automatically lost their slots to the next best candidate in the highly competitive exercise. According to Onile, the TESCOM Chairman, Bello Taoheed, said the candidates tested for hard drugs such as benzodiazepine, tramadol, cotinine, marijuana and amphetamine — all of which were considered unsafe for human health. He said the drug test was conducted by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)…

The Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal, has said he inherited a near-empty treasury and crippling debts when he took over from his predecessor, Bello Matawalle. Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Monday, Lawal described the condition of Zamfara as a “complete mess” across sectors, with a failing education system, collapsed healthcare, widespread insecurity, and a mountain of financial liabilities. “When I took over as governor, Zamfara State was in a mess in every aspect of life—security at the highest level, education and healthcare at the bottom, human development capacity almost non-existent,” he said. Lawal disclosed that he…

The Rivers State Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retired), has issued a demand to the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) for the refund of N300 million. This sum was paid by the state government as hosting rights for the 2025 Annual General Conference, which the NBA subsequently relocated to Enugu. The NBA’s decision to move the conference from Rivers State was attributed to concerns over the state of emergency declaration and perceived democratic lapses within the state. In response, Ibok-Ette Ibas emphasized the importance of ethical consistency, stating, “While we respect the NBA’s prerogative in selecting conference venues, it is…

The Federal Government has declared a significant leap in Nigeria’s power sector stability, disclosing that the national grid now transmits electricity more reliably following the addition of over 700 megawatts of transmission capacity. The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, made this known during a meeting with the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Gautier Mignot, in Abuja over the weekend. According to a statement on Sunday by the minister’s media aide, Bolaji Tunji, the improved transmission performance was made possible through the Presidential Power Initiative, backed by a $2.3bn funding package aimed at overhauling the nation’s transmission infrastructure. “We have…

In a commendable effort to combat child trafficking across state borders, the Kaduna State Government has successfully rescued 13 children who were kidnapped and trafficked to various parts of Nigeria. According to the Commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Rabi Salisu, the children, some of whom were as young as seven days old when abducted, were sold to traffickers operating in Kebbi, Cross River, Enugu, and Anambra States. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, April 12, 2025, Commissioner Salisu revealed the harrowing details of the rescue operation. “The rescued children were trafficked to Enugu State by a syndicate, with some…

The Federal Government will, in May 2025, commence a nationwide flood sensitisation campaign across 30 high-risk states and the Federal Capital Territory to mitigate the impact of potential disasters during the rainy season. This initiative, aimed at increasing public awareness and community preparedness, was disclosed by the Deputy Director, Department of Flood, Erosion Control and Coastal Management at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mr Kunle Awojemila, in an interview with The PUNCH on Sunday. According to him, the campaign will kick off in the FCT, starting with Dutse, and later move to flood-prone areas such as Lokogoma and Lugbe. “We…

Three doctors at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Kogi State, have been reportedly dismissed for peacefully protesting against what they described as deteriorating working conditions and poor staff welfare at the institution. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the affected doctors, who had participated in several protests over time, were also pushing for the reinstatement of their suspended association president, Dr. Jimoh Umar. They demanded an independent probe into the hospital’s alleged decay and what they termed as long-standing management failures. According to the protesting doctors, the hospital has failed to address critical challenges, including a severe manpower shortage, dilapidated facilities, and…