Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Nigerian Railway Corporation has announced a 72-hour suspension of operations on the Warri-Itakpe train route following a technical engine failure. This was disclosed in a statement shared Thursday by the NRC Managing Director, Kayode Opeifa, via his X handle. The statement, signed by the NRC’s Public Relations Officer, Henrietta Eregare, noted that the suspension became necessary after the train experienced a breakdown on Tuesday, April 9. “In view of the situation, the NRC has suspended operations on the Warri-Itakpe route for 72 hours,” the statement read. The corporation said the temporary suspension will allow its technical team to carry…

Seventeen victims abducted over a month ago in Niger State have been rescued by operatives of the Kaduna State Police Command’s Anti-Kidnapping Unit, working in synergy with the Office of the National Security Adviser. The victims, comprising women and children, were rescued on Wednesday, April 10, in Kaduna, more than five weeks after their abduction from Sarkin Pawa, Niger State, on March 3, 2025. The Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday, noting that the rescue operation reflected the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun’s commitment to intelligence-led and inter-agency collaborative policing. Among the…

On Wednesday, aggrieved youths from the Okpanam community in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State besieged the entrance of the Delta State Government House in Asaba, protesting against prolonged power outages and alleged exploitation by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).​ The demonstrators brandished placards with inscriptions such as “BEDC, Stop Ridiculing Us—We Pay Bills, Give Us Light!”, “We Say No to BEDC Supply Plan to Okpanam!”, “Stop the Exploitation!” and “We Are in Capital Territory but Live as Slaves, Please Help Us!”​ Addressing journalists during the protest, the President General of the Okpanam Youth Organization, Mr. Lucky…

A tragic incident has rocked the Rimintsiwa area of Zaria City in Kaduna State, where a 53-year-old man, identified as Abubakar Aminu, allegedly beat his younger brother, Sani Yusuf, to death following a violent altercation. The incident reportedly occurred on April 4, 2025, at their family home, according to security analyst Zagazola Makama. It was gathered that the suspect launched a brutal attack on his 50-year-old sibling, inflicting severe injuries on him. Sani was rushed to the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, where he remained under intensive medical care. However, he succumbed to the injuries and was pronounced dead…

Tragedy struck in Obidi, Agwa community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday, as a thunderstorm reportedly killed three persons and left four others injured. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the unusual incident, which occurred on April 8, 2025, has sparked fear among residents who described the thunderstorm as mysterious because it was not accompanied by heavy rainfall. An elder in the community, Mr. Nze Ike, who confirmed the development said those injured are currently receiving treatment in a hospital. “It was just a little rain in the community on Tuesday, but the impact of the thunderstorm hit…

… 180 Students Paid N30K for Question Papers – JAMB Morenikeji Adebayo and Balkees Adeniji Scores of candidates and their parents at Southwest Resource Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and CMS Grammar School CBT Centre in Bariga, Lagos, were left stranded for hours on Thursday during the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination mock examination organized by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the candidates were directed to report at the centre by 6:30 a.m., but upon arrival, they reportedly waited for hours before the exam commenced. At the Southwest Resource Centre, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta,…

The Rwandan High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ambassador Christophe Bazivamo, has pledged support for international students at Babcock University, Ogun State, urging them to prioritise peace and unity as they pursue their academic goals. Bazivamo gave the charge during the Babcock University International Students Association (BUISA) Cultural Day, held as part of the BUISA Week celebration. “We proudly stand in solidarity with you, our esteemed students,” the envoy said, acknowledging the challenges and opportunities international students face while studying abroad. He encouraged them to build friendships, embrace diverse cultures and contribute to a positive African narrative. He also lauded their collaboration…

The Presidency has issued a formal apology following errors discovered in the recently released list of federal appointments aimed at countering allegations of regional bias in President Bola Tinubu’s administration. The controversy surrounding the appointments gained traction as opposition figures, including Senator Ali Ndume of Borno South, criticized the President for allegedly disregarding the federal character principle. In a candid interview with Arise Television, Ndume accused the President of disproportionately favoring appointees from his native South West region. In response, the Presidency had unveiled a list detailing appointments across various geopolitical zones. However, the omission of key figures, notably the…

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has slammed a combined fine of N628 million on eight Electricity Distribution Companies for breaching the capping regulation on estimated billing for unmetered customers. The affected DisCos include Abuja, Eko, Enugu, Ikeja, Jos, Kaduna, Kano, and Yola. NERC said the sanction followed a detailed review of the utilities’ billing practices between July and September 2024, which showed non-compliance with its energy cap orders aimed at protecting consumers from arbitrary billing. In a statement issued on Thursday, the Commission disclosed that the fines represent five per cent of the total overbilling recorded within the three-month period,…

The Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) has issued a stark warning, identifying 1,249 communities across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) at high risk of flooding in its 2025 annual flood outlook. This announcement, made during a press briefing in Abuja on Thursday, highlights the increasing threat of flooding exacerbated by climate change. Joseph Utsev, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, emphasized the severity of flooding as one of Nigeria’s most devastating natural disasters. He disclosed that an additional 2,187 communities spread across 293 local government areas face moderate flood risks this year. Among the high-risk states listed…