Author: Platform Times Newspaper

…Only those above 45 with $10,000 bank balance eligible for tourist visa The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has again imposed strict travel restrictions on Nigerian passport holders, banning all transit visa applications and introducing tougher requirements for tourist visas. In a new directive circulated to travel agents on Tuesday, UAE authorities declared that Nigerian citizens between the ages of 18 and 45 are no longer eligible to apply for tourist visas unless they are traveling in groups or with official sponsorship. The UAE also announced a total suspension of transit visa applications from Nigerians, a move that has raised…

…Oloyede Flags Top Scorer as Suspected Mercenary …11 JAMB Staff Arrested in Ogun, 3,300 Candidates Under Investigation Balqees Adeniji & Feyisayo Ogunbiyi A wave of public outrage has trailed the decision by Vice Chancellors and other tertiary education stakeholders to peg the minimum cut-off mark for university admission at 150 and 100 for polytechnics and colleges of education for the 2025/2026 academic session. PLATFORM TIMES reports that the  decision, announced at the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board’s (JAMB) 2025 Policy Meeting on Admissions held in Abuja on Tuesday, has sparked widespread condemnation, with many accusing the stakeholders of lowering…

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced investigations into a suspected case of illegal cross-border cash smuggling involving undeclared foreign currencies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars at the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano. The suspect, Ahmad Salisu, was intercepted by officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) during a routine luggage check on Monday, July 7, 2025. A search of his baggage reportedly uncovered a stash of foreign currencies wrapped in a polythene bag and hidden beneath clothes. Preliminary findings revealed the suspect was in possession of $420,900, £5,825, CFA 3,946,500, and 224,000 Cameroonian CFA, all…

 Daud Olatunji Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed as false and politically motivated, reports claiming he was pressured to step down for a southern candidate ahead of the 2027 presidential election. In a strongly worded statement released through his media office on Tuesday, the 2023 presidential flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) described the alleged meeting as “phantom,” insisting he never attended such gathering and that no such discussion took place. “There was no such meeting. Atiku Abubakar was never in attendance,” the statement read. “The entire story is a malicious fabrication — pure fiction cooked up in…

The Federal Government has issued over 3.5 million passports since August 2023 and saved more than N1 billion annually following sweeping reforms in the passport application process, the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed on Tuesday. Speaking during the commissioning of a new passport front office in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo said the changes were part of President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at enhancing service delivery, national security, and efficiency within the Ministry of Interior. The minister revealed that the administration inherited a backlog of over 200,000 unprocessed passport applications and a debt of nearly N20 billion upon assumption…

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has raised the alarm over an unprecedented spike in human rights violations across Nigeria, disclosing that it recorded a staggering 1,485,307 complaints in the first half of 2025 alone. The commission’s Senior Human Rights Adviser, Hilary Ogbonna, made the revelation on Monday during the presentation of NHRC’s monthly dashboard report for June. He described the figure as the highest ever recorded in the history of the commission. “This is our highest in the history of this commission. We are also happy that, as of June 30, we have resolved 20,000 cases. We can do…

…Says  online registration begins August 18, physical registration follows August 25 Daud Olatunji The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Osun State, Dr. Mutiu Agboke, has issued a stern warning to electoral officers and staff of the commission against acts of indiscipline and sabotage ahead of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and the 2026 governorship election in the state. Speaking during an engagement session held at the INEC State Office in Osogbo on Tuesday, Agboke reminded Electoral Officers (EOs), Assistant Electoral Officers (AEOs), and heads of units at the state office of their critical…

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has once again reduced the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, bringing it down from N840 to N820 per litre. The latest adjustment marks the second price reduction within a week, following an earlier drop from N880 to N840 per litre, as the company responds to market realities and aims to cushion the burden on Nigerians. Announcing the development on Tuesday, Group spokesperson, Mr. Anthony Chiejina, said the new price takes effect immediately. “The price of PMS has been reduced from N840 to N820 per litre, effective immediately,” he said, adding…

Daud Olatunji The Ogun State Government has flagged off the third phase of its flagship women empowerment programme, Oko’owo Dapo, with the onboarding of 150 newly engaged Ward Facilitators tasked with mobilising and mentoring 20,000 women across the state’s 20 local government areas. The initiative, which is under the supervision of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, was launched during a training workshop held in Abeokuta. Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Motunrayo Adijat Adeleye, described the workshop as the “ignition point of a new chapter in grassroots transformation,” while commending…

The Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that Nigerians often demand basic amenities like roads, schools, and electricity from federal lawmakers, despite such responsibilities falling outside their constitutional roles. Speaking on Tuesday at the opening of the 2025 Open Week of the House of Representatives in Abuja, the former Speaker of the House said this mismatch between public expectations and legislative duties is a major threat to the nation’s democracy. Gbajabiamila explained that lawmakers frequently resort to inserting constituency projects into the national budget because constituents expect them to deliver social services, a duty constitutionally…