Author: Platform Times Newspaper

…Children, Pregnant Women Among Victims …Starvation, Disease Ravage Overcrowded Facility The Amnesty International has called for an urgent and independent investigation into the alleged deaths of at least 150 Fulani detainees, many of them children, at a military-supervised facility in Kwara State. In a statement issued on Thursday, the rights group alleged that about 1,500 displaced Fulani pastoralists were held for months at the National Youth Service Corps Orientation Camp in Yikpata, Edu Local Government Area, under what it described as “deplorable and life-threatening conditions.” According to Amnesty, findings from its investigation revealed severe overcrowding, poor sanitation, acute food…

Former Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday declared support for the state Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat, as the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress ahead of the 2027 election. Ambode, in a personally signed statement, said Hamzat’s emergence as the party’s consensus candidate reflected his loyalty, consistency, and long-standing commitment to the APC. He described Hamzat as a “true party man” whose consultations across party structures demonstrated his dedication to unity and progress. “I join my fellow APC members in congratulating my brother and friend, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, on his emergence as the consensus governorship candidate of…

Local government areas in Lagos received a total of ₦165.75bn as net statutory allocation from the Federation Account Allocation Committee in the first quarter of 2026, with Alimosho Local Government emerging as the highest beneficiary. Data sourced from Statisense, citing figures from the National Bureau of Statistics, showed that Alimosho LGA received ₦10.7bn within the three-month period, maintaining its position as the largest recipient among the 20 councils in the state. Ajeromi/Ifelodun and Kosofe LGAs followed with ₦9.0bn and ₦8.9bn respectively, while Mushin, Oshodi/Isolo, and Ojo LGAs each recorded allocations of ₦8.8bn. Further breakdown indicated that Ikorodu received ₦8.6bn, while…

The Supreme Court of Nigeria on Thursday nullified the national convention held by the Peoples Democratic Party in Ibadan, Ibadan, effectively sacking the factional national executives that emerged from the exercise. The convention, conducted between November 15 and 16, 2025, had produced a leadership bloc led by former minister, Tanimu Turaki (SAN). In a decisive ruling delivered in Abuja, the apex court held that the convention was invalid, thereby voiding all decisions and outcomes arising from it. Although details of the judgment were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report, the verdict is expected to have far-reaching…

The senator representing Ogun West Senatorial District, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, has been tipped to consolidate on the achievements of Governor Dapo Abiodun and unlock the economic potential of Ogun State if elected governor in 2027. Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, recently emerged as the consensus governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the state, putting to rest weeks of speculation over who would clinch the party’s ticket among several aspirants. Speaking with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday, a chieftain of the APC and Convener of the Ogun West Initiative, Olootu Bolaji Adeniji, described Adeola’s emergence as a “historic opportunity”…

The Gender Development Initiative, in partnership with the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, has scaled up its anti-human trafficking campaign across Ogun State, reaching no fewer than 7,787 parents, traders and community actors through coordinated school and community engagements. The intervention, implemented under the Schools Anti-Trafficking Education and Advocacy Project, covered major zones including Abeokuta, Ijebu and Yewa, with a focus on curbing trafficking at the grassroots level. As part of the initiative, sensitisation programmes were held in five secondary schools in Abeokuta—Lafenwa High School, Salau Abiola Comprehensive High School, Ansar-U-Deen High School, Premier Grammar School and Muslim High…

The United Nations Children’s Fund has called on state governments in the South-West to increase domestic investment in nutrition programmes to tackle rising cases of child stunting and poor development outcomes. The appeal was made during a one-day regional workshop on the operationalisation of the Integrated Multisectoral Nutrition Intervention and the N-774 Initiative, held in Ibadan. The workshop, organised by the Oyo State Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning in collaboration with UNICEF, brought together key government officials and stakeholders from Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun  and Oyo  to strengthen regional collaboration on nutrition financing and implementation. Speaking at the…

By Muyi Lamidi In the early hours of a typical market day in Owo or the quiet evenings in Akoko communities, political conversations are already shifting—long before campaign posters appear or party primaries begin. Across Ondo North, people are asking familiar but urgent questions: Who truly understands our struggles? Who will speak for us where it matters? In these conversations, one name is beginning to surface more frequently—Michael Abayomi Adeyanju a.k.a. Imole. While the 2027 elections are still some distance away, his growing visibility is not accidental. It reflects a combination of factors that are slowly shaping public perception across…

Lafarge Africa Plc has reported a Profit After Tax (PAT) of ₦97.95 billion for the first quarter of the 2026 financial year, representing a sharp 101 per cent increase from ₦48.64 billion recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, driven by robust sales growth, improved operational efficiency and sustained cost discipline. The cement manufacturer also posted net sales of ₦334.88 billion for the period under review, marking a 35 per cent rise compared to ₦248.35 billion achieved in Q1 2025, as demand strengthened across key markets on the back of improved distribution and plant stability. Operating profit rose significantly by…

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Tuesday approved a ₦2 billion emergency relief package for victims of the March 29 attack on Angwa Rukuban in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State, while charging political, traditional and community leaders to take decisive steps toward ending recurring violence in the state. The President also directed Plateau stakeholders to urgently review and implement earlier government White Paper recommendations on past security crises, insisting that only deliberate political will and accountability can guarantee lasting peace. The development was disclosed after a three-hour interactive session between the President and a 32-man delegation from Plateau…