Twitter’s Paid Verification Rollout On Hold – Elon Musk Explains Why

Elon Musk has explained why he’s pausing the relaunch of its paid verification subscription service.  According to him, the relaunch is on hold till he is confident about stopping impersonations of celebrity accounts.  Following his buyout of the social media company for $44bn last month, the Tesla chief said he would change the microblogging platform’s verification system – providing a blue tick to everyone that paid $8 and subscribed to Twitter Blue.  He had argued that adding this paid tier to Twitter would help weed out spam and fake accounts as they will not be willing to pay to get traction on the site.  Soon after the rollout of the $8 subscription service earlier this month, however, the platform descended into chaos after several users purchased verified badges and began to impersonate public personalities and organisations. Last week, the world’s richest man and new owner of Twitter had said the platform’s $8 per month Blue subscription service would be made available again on 29 November.  “Punting relaunch of Blue Verified to November 29th to make sure that it is rock …

Twitter’s Paid Verification Rollout On Hold – Elon Musk Explains Why Read More

Election 2023: I Will Borrow For Investment – Peter Obi

Peter Obi, the former Governor of Anambra State, has said it is not a bad thing to borrow money.  Speaking on Monday, Obi said he will borrow for investment.  He said this yesterday during his address at the Editors Forum, an initiative of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, held in Lagos.  Obi said: “Every nation borrows; individual businesses borrow all over the world. What is important is what we use the borrowed money to do. If you borrow for consumption, that is where we have a problem.” The former governor insisted that borrowed money should be invested well to increase the country’s gross domestic product and per capita income.  “I won’t say I will not borrow, but I will only borrow for investment, and I will explain to Nigerians the need for the borrowing,” he added, promising to reduce the nation’s debt burden.  Asked to speak about his increasing support base, Obi said he doesn’t know the total number of supporters he currently has, but that he would rather die than fail his supporters.  He said: “I did not know many of them, …

Election 2023: I Will Borrow For Investment – Peter Obi Read More

Masari Weeps As He Presents Final Budget

By Abbas Bamalli Katsina, – Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State on Tuesday wept while presenting the final budget of his administration to the state House Assembly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government proposed over N288.63 billion as the state’s budget for the 2023 fiscal year. The proposal tagged, ‘Budget of Transition’, earmarked 63.77% as capital expenditure and 36.23% for recurrent services.  Masari said, “In aggregate terms, the 2023 budget is lower than that of the 2022 revised budget by N34, 662, 962, 998.00.  “The 2023 budget is structured with a total recurrent expenditure of N104,580,485,996.28, which is equivalent to 36.23 per cent of the total budget. “And capital expenditure of N184,052,771,966.72, which is 63.77 per cent of the total budget.” He said the budget would be financed from the Opening Balance of N12.06 billion, N62.59 billion Internally Generated Revenue, and over N119 billion expected from the Federation Account. “It is important to note that the 2023 recurrent revenue has increased by 7.33% over that of the 2022 revised budget. “And the capital expenditure in the 2023 budget …

Masari Weeps As He Presents Final Budget Read More

FG Begins Disbursement Of Cash To 3,166 Beneficiaries Of GEEP In Niger

By Rita IliyaMinna, – The Federal government’s Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP 2.0) has begun the disbursement of soft loan to 3,166 vulnerable and low-icome groups that are engaged in some commercial activities in Niger. Hajiya Sadiya Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, announced this during the inauguration of the National Social Investment Programmes (N-SIP) in Minna on Tuesday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that among the programmes inaugurated were the Federal government grant to vulnerable groups, GEEP 2.0 Roll-Out, digitalised payment for Conditional Cash Transfer, Height and Weight Measurement Kits, launching of nationwide sensitisation of home-grown school feeding and inspection of farm to kitchen center. Farouq said that no fewer than 1,142,783 potential beneficiaries were registered across 774 local government of the country in the first phase of GEEP. According to her, 41,513 beneficiariries were registered in Niger state with 9,637 verified and 3,166 enumerated beneficiaries were selected to benefit. She added that GEEP was captured in three signature schemes such as TraderMoni and MarketMoni loan of N50,000 and FarmerMoni of N300,000 …

FG Begins Disbursement Of Cash To 3,166 Beneficiaries Of GEEP In Niger Read More

Nigeria Won’t Know Peace Until Nnamdi Kanu’s Release – Actress, Rita Edochie

Famous Nollywood actress and television personality, Rita Edochie, has talked about Nnamdi Kanu. She stated that Nigeria will never know peace until the federal government release Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). While condemning the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu after the Appeal Court ruling, she warned that it’s going to be the worst experience should anything happen to him in detention. The actress, who, in a post shared on her Instagram page on Monday, called on the people of the south-east to unite and demand Kanu’s release, however, noted that the south-east could never achieve its push for the presidency without Kanu’s support. She said, “The continuous detention of Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu will keep dividing Nigeria. So long as Kanu is still being detained, Nigeria will never know peace. Ndi Igbo I laugh, ndi Igbo wake up. Onye Igbo can never smell presidency without Mazi Nnamdi Okwu Kanu. “It is a spiritual thing. Fight for your own first, and God will finish the battle. Ndi Igbo let nothing happen to our great brother Nnamdi Kanu because …

Nigeria Won’t Know Peace Until Nnamdi Kanu’s Release – Actress, Rita Edochie Read More

APC Urges Candidates To Comply With Kogi Signage Law

By Thompson Yamput Lokoja, – The All Progressives Congress (APC), has urged all its candidates in Kogi, to comply with the state Signage Law in placing their campaigns bill boards for 2023 general election. Mr Kingsley Fanwo, the state APC Campaign Council Director, Media and Publicity, said this in a statement in Lokoja on Tuesday. “Whoever wishes to place any campaign bill board anywhere within the state must endeavour to pay the necessary amount being charged by Kogi State Internally Revenue Service (KGSIRS) to avoid any penalty. “This is because Kogi APC Campaign Council has acknowledged the provisions of the state Signage Law as it affects display of campaign materials to create awareness for our party’s candidates ahead of the 2023 general election. “Our party and campaign council is hereby fully committed to paying the subscription fees as well as adhere strictly to other provisions of the law,” he said. Fanwo, also the state’s Commissioner for Information, commended the state legislature for passing the bill aimed at improving the state’s IGR and environmental sanity. He enjoined the council’s zonal and …

APC Urges Candidates To Comply With Kogi Signage Law Read More

South Africa’s Ramaphosa Leads ANC Presidency Race Ahead Of Conference

Cape Town, – South African president Cyril Ramaphosa received the most votes from branches of the ruling African National Congress heading into the party’s December elective conference. The ANC on Tuesday released the final list of nominees for its top six positions, among them party president, deputy president and secretary general for its powerful national executive committee (NEC) ahead of the national conference to be held between Dec. 16 and Dec. 20. Whoever emerges as party president would become state president, should the ANC secure a majority in a general election due in 2024. The ANC said 3,543 out of a total of 3,982 branches in good standing held meetings to select its top six candidates. Ramaphosa, who replaced his predecessor Jacob Zuma as state president in 2018 by pledging to overcome rampant state corruption, got 2,037 votes from branches but can still face challengers nominated from the floor, officials said. Kgalema Motlanthe, the ANC electoral head told a media briefing that “as you know at a conference there will be an opportunity for delegates to nominate from the floor, …

South Africa’s Ramaphosa Leads ANC Presidency Race Ahead Of Conference Read More

How I killed my friend, sold head, heart for N200,000 – Man confesses in Ogun

A man identified as Idowu Abel had confessed to the police how he and his accomplice, Clement Adeniyi, killed his close friend, Adekunle Muyiwa, in cold blood. Abel had told the police in Ogun State that he and Adeniyi killed his friend, dismembered and sold his head, heart and two hands to one herbalist, who was introduced to him by one Pastor Felix Ajadi. It was gathered that the trio of Abel, Adeniyi and the so-called Pastor Ajadi were arrested by men of the Ogun State Police Command on Saturday, November 19, 2022, “for abducting, killing and dismembering Muyiwa’s body for ritual purpose.” An elder of the victim, Oluwaseyi Adekunle, had on November 15 lodged a report at the Owode Yewa divisional headquarters, saying his younger brother left home on November 10, 2022, and never returned home. Confirming the incident on Tuesday, the Ogun State police spokesman, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the DPO of Owode Yewa division, CSP Mohammed S. Baba, working on the complaint, detailed his crack detectives to unravel the mystery behind the sudden disappearance of Muyiwa. “In the …

How I killed my friend, sold head, heart for N200,000 – Man confesses in Ogun Read More

After promising Obi logistics support, Wike also states same to Kwankwaso

The Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has promised logistics support to the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party, Rabiu Kwankwaso. This comes days after he made the same promise to the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, despite being a member of the Peoples Democratic Party. Wike had on Friday welcomed Obi to Rivers State for the inauguration of infrastructural projects, during which he made the promise to him. He said, “They said I said I’m supporting Obi, I have no regret to say: Obi is a former governor, if he is coming to Rivers State to campaign, I will give him logistics support, I will give him security. “A former governor? Should I say I will not give him vehicles? I will not give him security? I won’t do that; I must give him logistics support.” “You are a man of integrity, it is unfortunate that we are not in the same party but God will help at the appropriate time. These are the kind of people that should be talking about leadership of the …

After promising Obi logistics support, Wike also states same to Kwankwaso Read More

2023: Court orders INEC to resume voters registration

A Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to immediately resume the continuous voters registration (CVR) until 90 days before the 2023 general elections. Justice Inyang Ekwo, in a judgment, also directed the INEC to ensure that eligible Nigerians are not deprived the opportunity to have the voter’s card for the forthcoming poll. Justice Ekwo held that it was the constitutional responsibility of the electoral umpire to make adequate provision for the exercise in accordance with the Nigerian laws. “The case of the plaintiffs succeeds on merit,” the judge declared. NAN reports that Anajat Salmat and three others had sued INEC as sole defendant in a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1343/2022. In the originating summons filed before the court, the plaintiffs argued that INEC cannot stop the CVR contrary to the stipulated provisions of the constitution. They urged the court to order the electoral umpire to resume the exercise in accordance with the law of the country.

2023: Court orders INEC to resume voters registration Read More

Nnamdi Kanu demands N20bn compensation, apologies from Malami

The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu has demanded N20 billion as compensation from the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami. Kanu demanded compensation following alleged defamatory and libellous claims against him. Speaking through his Special Counsel, Aloy Ejimakor, the IPOB leader, said Malami’s claim that he jumped bail despite a court order clearing him was libellous. Recall that the military had invaded Kanu’s premises at Isiama Afaraukwu Ibeku, Abia State on 10th September, 2017, and this led to him fleeing the country. The alleged invasion was contested and tagged a violation of Kanu’s fundamental human right. But, the courts ruled that the invasion was unlawful, illegal, and unconstitutional. Speaking on the issue, Malami was quoted as saying: “To release or not to release Nnamdi Kanu is a function of law and the rule of law for that matter. In arriving at a decision on whether to release or not release, is one; you look at the rule of law, two; you look at the public and the national interest, three; …

Nnamdi Kanu demands N20bn compensation, apologies from Malami Read More

2023 presidency: Peter Obi speaks on offering Kwankwaso N40bn to step down’

The presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi on Monday denied reports that he offered N40 billion to his New Nigeria Peoples Party, NNPP counterpart, Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso to step down for him. The former Anambra governor cleared the air on Monday during an interactive session with the Nigerian Guild of Editors, NGE, which was held in Lekki, Lagos State. He said: “I never knowingly or unknowingly offered anybody money to become president. In all my talks with Kwankwaso, I never offered him any money.” According to reports, there has been speculation that the Labour Party had offered N40 billion to Kwankwaso to step down for Obi. Recall that the Director-General of the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Campaign Council Doyin Okupe had on November 5, announced that the party was in talk with Kwakwaso and other stakeholders of the NNPP for possible alliance. Okupe’s assertion fueled the speculation that Kwankwaso was offered money to step down. However, the former Kano State Governor, said in Lagos at the weekend that he was contesting to win, stressing that he is stepping down …

2023 presidency: Peter Obi speaks on offering Kwankwaso N40bn to step down’ Read More

2023: Lai Mohammed reveals greatest threat to general elections

Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture has identified fake news as the greatest challenge to the 2023 general elections. The minister spoke at the 4th edition of the ‘PMB AdministrationScorecard 2015-2023 Series’. The purpose, according to him, is to massively showcase the numerous achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Mohammed pointed out that the increasing resort to fake news anddisinformation by a section of the media is becoming a great threat to the success of the 2023 general election. He noted that while it is generally assumed that thuggery, insecurity, vote buying, attack on facilities of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, are seen as the biggest threats to the election, fake news and disinformation constitute an equally-potent threat, because they are capable of hampering the success of the polls. “In recent times, we have all witnessed how a letter purportedly from INEC was used to cast aspersions on the candidate of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC). “Shortly after that, the death of an innocent man was turned to a political tool to further attack the …

2023: Lai Mohammed reveals greatest threat to general elections Read More

2023: Hold a rally in Kano – Ganduje challenges Kwankwaso

Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, on Monday, challenged the presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso to hold a rally in the State to test his popularity. Ganduje was speaking about the large turnout at the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally for Bola Tinubu in the State earlier on Monday. According to the Governor, many of Kwankwaso’s followers are now with the APC. “So, if Kwankwaso thinks that he can win the party, let him hold a march like this and compare what will happen if he can do so,” Ganduje said on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday evening. Ganduje further questioned the political relevancy of Ibrahim Shekarau, who he noted was moving from one party to another and losing a large number of his followers in the process. The Governor believes that Shekarau has left a majority of his followers in the All Progressives Congress, the NNPP and suggested that no one knows the former Governor’s next moves.

2023: Hold a rally in Kano – Ganduje challenges Kwankwaso Read More

COVID-19: Health Declaration Form Not Peculiar To Nigeria — PSC

By Abujah Racheal Abuja – The Presidential Steering committee (PSC), has dismissed notion that health declaration forms were peculiar to Nigeria’s borders. The committee says for border control and surveillance, there have always been health declaration forms, as this is not particular to the country alone. Dr Mukhtar Muhammad, National Incident Manager, Presidential Steering Committee (PSC) on COVID-19, said this on Tuesday in Abuja. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that travellers into the country who were asked to upload their health certificates concerning COVID-19 and other infectious diseases like Ebola as requirement,  had called on the government to stop the process. They also alleged that the country alone had the difficult requirement. ” Let me take you back in history; you know, for border control and border surveillance, there have always been health declaration forms. “We have for yellow fever, meningitis, cholera, even during the time of smallpox we had. “All of these made the world realise that there is cross -border transmission of infection, and every country has its own set of rules. “So, it is not …

COVID-19: Health Declaration Form Not Peculiar To Nigeria — PSC Read More

Photos: Atiku meets leadership of CAN in Abuja

Ahead of the 2023 polls, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday, engaged in an interactive section with the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The former vice president, who disclosed this in a post on his social media handles, said the event is taking place at the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja. He wrote, “To recover Nigeria, we need to consult widely with all the critical stakeholders in our country. “I am at the Ecumenical Centre in Abuja for my interactive session with the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). It promises to be a robust and fulfilling conversation”. DAILY POST recalls that the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had on November 16 met with the leadership of CAN where the choice of Muslim-Muslim ticket was discussed. Tinubu had during the meeting, assured Nigerians that if elected president, his administration would carry everybody along no matter the religions.

Photos: Atiku meets leadership of CAN in Abuja Read More