Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday presented certificates of return to Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State and his deputy, Onyekachukwu Ibezim, following their victory in the November 8 governorship election. The certificates were presented by the Supervising INEC National Commissioner in charge of the Anambra election, Kenneth Ukeagu, at the commission’s state headquarters in Awka. Speaking during the ceremony, Ukeagu said the presentation marked the formal conclusion of the electoral process and reflected the confidence reposed in the governor and his deputy by the people of Anambra. He stated that the action was in line with Section…

A dramatic confrontation broke out on Tuesday between the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, and a group of armed soldiers who prevented him and his entourage from accessing a disputed parcel of land in the Gaduwa District of Abuja. Wike, who was on an inspection visit with senior FCT officials, was reportedly stopped at the gate by military personnel who insisted they were acting on “orders from above.” The incident quickly escalated into a heated face-off, with the visibly angry minister accusing the soldiers of lawlessness and abuse of power. “This is unprofessional. You cannot be…

…Demands BSc Or HND As Minimum Qualification For Elective Offices Daud Olatunji Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has urged the Federal Government to impose a lifetime ban on leaders convicted of corruption or abuse of power, including any complicit family members and associates. Amosun described corruption as “the greatest betrayal of leadership,” stressing that those who abuse public trust have no moral or ethical justification to return to governance. The former governor made the call in Ibadan, Oyo State, while delivering a lecture at the 2nd Lam Adesina Annual Lecture Series, themed “Sustaining a Legacy of Effective Leadership…

Six people were on Tuesday arraigned before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court, Isabo, on charges of impersonation, unlawful preparation of land instruments and conduct likely to cause a breach of the public peace. The accused — Rebecca Adeola, 32; Moses Toviesi, 23; Abimbola Opeyemi, 43; Precious Oluwole, 18; Eniola Sowunmi, 33; and Agbona Abdulrahman, 36 — pleaded not guilty to the three-count charge, the prosecutor, Insp. Lawrence Olu-Balogun, told the court. Olu-Balogun said the offences were committed at Isabo area of Abeokuta sometime in 2025 and involved unlawfully representing themselves as legal practitioners and preparing land documents without authorisation. He…

Jelil Lawal & Firdaus Obiremi Barely 24 hours after PLATFORM TIMES reported the heartbreaking story of 15-year-old Ayomide Matthew — a school dropout found scavenging for survival in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital — another out-of-school teenager has been discovered at the same location, living under similar circumstances. The new discovery came after the earlier report on Ayomide attracted responses from concerned citizens, including the Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu. Following the reactions, PLATFORM TIMES revisited the scene in search of Ayomide and found him alongside another 15-year-old boy identified as Basit Akanni, both…

The Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) has warned that the 15 per cent ad-valorem tariff recently approved by President Bola Tinubu on imported fuel and diesel could force Nigerians to spend an additional N3 billion daily on petrol consumption. Chief Executive Officer of MEMAN, Clement Isong, gave the warning in an interview at the weekend, describing the tariff as excessive and economically harsh on citizens. Isong explained that the projected N3 billion extra daily cost is based on Nigeria’s estimated consumption of 30 million litres of petrol per day. He said that if the tariff leads to a…

The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on Nigerians, particularly the youths, to rise above religious and ethnic intolerance and embrace unity, harmony, and love as the foundation for national progress. Mrs Tinubu made the call on Monday in Abuja at the National Christian Youth Leaders Conference, organised by the Youth Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (YOWICAN), with the theme “Let the Truth Set You Free.” Her appeal came in response to the recent designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) by the administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump, following alleged killings of…

…Over 100 Terrorists Killed in Rival Clash The Nigerian Air Force has intensified its nationwide counter-terrorism campaign, launching a wave of precision airstrikes that killed scores of terrorists and destroyed key insurgent enclaves across Borno, Kwara and Katsina States. According to Air Force authorities, the coordinated operations marked one of the most decisive phases yet in ongoing joint military offensives — Operation Hadin Kai in the North-East and Operation Fasan Yamma in the North-West — aimed at dismantling terrorist and bandit networks. Air Commodore Ehimen Ejodame, NAF’s Director of Public Relations and Information, said the latest air interdictions, executed on…

…Lawmakers Allege Donor Funds May Have Been Diverted To Terrorism …Health Ministry, Partners Ordered To Submit Full Spending Details …EFCC, ICPC To Track Every Kobo Spent On Disease Contro Daud Olatunji  The House of Representatives has launched a sweeping investigation into the alleged mismanagement of over $4.6 billion in donor funds earmarked for Nigeria’s fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, amid fears that portions of the funds may have been diverted for terrorist financing. The probe, spearheaded by the House Committee on Infectious Diseases, covers about $1.8 billion from the Global Fund and $2.8 billion from USAID disbursed between 2021…

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has announced a significant reduction in the 2026 Hajj fares for intending pilgrims across the country, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu to make the spiritual journey more affordable for Nigerian Muslims. President Tinubu had in October, through his Deputy Chief of Staff, Senator Ibrahim Hadeija, instructed the commission to review downward the fares it earlier announced for next year’s pilgrimage. In compliance, NAHCON on Monday released a new fare schedule, showing substantial cuts for pilgrims from all zones. According to the revised rates, intending pilgrims from Borno and Adamawa zones will…