Author: Platform Times Newspaper

The Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has dismissed claims circulating on social media that some Nigerian banks are facing imminent shutdown, assuring the public that the nation’s banking sector remains healthy, safe and stable. ACAMB gave the assurance in a joint statement issued on Sunday by its President, Mr Rasheed Bolarinwa, and the General Secretary, Mr Jide Sipe, in reaction to a viral Instagram video alleging that 12 banks would be shut down by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by March 2026. The association described the claims as false, misleading and deliberately crafted to…

Relief swept through Papiri community in Niger State on Sunday as the remaining 130 pupils abducted from St. Mary’s Catholic School were released, bringing to an end weeks of fear, anguish and uncertainty for families and residents. Officials of the Office of the National Security Adviser confirmed the development to ARISE News, stating that the final batch of victims was freed following sustained security operations, coordinated intelligence efforts and mounting pressure on the abductors. With the latest release, all 230 pupils and staff members kidnapped during the November 21, 2025 attack on the Catholic boarding school have now regained their…

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to delivering key infrastructural projects in Ota and its environs, assuring residents that major developments promised by his government are steadily nearing completion. The governor gave the assurance at the 2025 annual Odun Omo Iganmode celebration held in Ota, where he disclosed that critical projects such as the Government Housing Estate, the Atan–Igbesa–Agbara Road, and sections of the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway reconstruction are ongoing and at advanced stages. Abiodun, who was represented at the event by his deputy, Engr Noimot Salako-Oyedele, said his administration would ensure that lasting legacy projects are…

The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has sounded a nationwide alert over Indomie Vegetable Flavour Noodles, warning that the product contains undeclared allergens—milk and eggs—that could trigger severe reactions in consumers with allergies. The alert, issued as Public Alert No. 041/2025 on December 18, 2025, follows a notification from Rappel Conso of France, the French food safety authority, after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the allergens. NAFDAC stressed that all batches of Indomie Vegetable Flavour Noodles with a best-before date of February 6, 2026, are affected. In a statement, the agency said: “Although the…

Islamic scholar, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, has once again urged the Nigerian government to pursue dialogue with armed groups, insisting that negotiation is more effective than military action in tackling insecurity. Sheikh Gumi, known for his controversial but influential views, recalled that negotiations with militants in the Niger Delta yielded positive results, and warned against repeating what he called the country’s “failed war strategy” against Boko Haram and bandits. Posting on his Facebook page, Gumi stated: “They say negotiations don’t work. It’s a lie. It worked with militants in Niger Delta creeks. Rather, it’s war that doesn’t work. Sixteen years we’re…

A 32-year-old Nigerian, Olusegun Adejorin, has been convicted by a U.S. federal court for defrauding two charitable organisations of over $7.5 million, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Saturday. Adejorin, extradited from Ghana, was found guilty after a six-day trial in Maryland federal court on charges of wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, and unauthorized access to a protected computer. The DOJ said Adejorin targeted charities in Maryland and New York between June and August 2020. Using spoofed email domains, he impersonated staff to manipulate financial transactions, redirecting funds to accounts unrelated to the charities. “After a six-day trial,…

A Nigerian national residing illegally in the United States,Laurel Echezonam, has pleaded guilty in a federal court for making false statements while attempting to purchase a firearm. According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Echezonam, 25, entered the country unlawfully through the southern border in 2022. Immigration authorities later confirmed that she had no legal status in the United States. Court records show that on June 7 and 8, 2024, Echezonam travelled from her Vicksburg, Mississippi, residence to multiple firearms dealers, attempting to buy a weapon. During the process, she allegedly provided false information about her immigration status to…

Former Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has raised the alarm over alleged post-passage alterations to Nigeria’s newly enacted tax reform laws, warning that the country has drifted dangerously from the era of padded budgets to what he described as “forged laws.” Obi, in a strongly worded statement on Saturday titled “Migrating from Padded Budgets to Forged Laws,” said discrepancies had been discovered between the tax bills passed by the National Assembly and the versions later published in the official gazette following President Bola Tinubu’s assent in June 2025. According to him, the alleged changes go beyond clerical errors and…

Christian leaders, traditional rulers and top government officials on Sunday charged Nigerians, particularly Christians, to demonstrate love, humility and service to humanity, as Victory Life Bible Church (VLBC) hosted its 2025 Christmas Carol tagged “Christmas on the Rock.” The colourful carol service, themed “The Manger and Its Majesty,” brought together worship, culture, drama and music, drawing dignitaries and families who filled the auditorium with praise, dance and reflection on the essence of Christmas. The event opened with “Caroliganza,” a rich cultural ensemble that blended fashion, gastronomy and entertainment. Children, dressed in vibrant outfits, enjoyed a 360-degree photo session, bouncing castles,…

The United States government has temporarily halted the processing of green card and citizenship applications filed by Nigerians and nationals of several other countries newly affected by President Donald Trump’s expanded travel ban, a report by CBS News has revealed. The latest move, which deepens Washington’s sweeping clampdown on legal immigration, affects thousands of would-be immigrants from Africa and Asia, many of whom are already living legally in the United States and seeking to adjust their status or become American citizens. According to the report, the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has extended an earlier directive freezing all immigration…