Meta, the parent company of Instagram, is set to launch a new feature on its Instagram and Facebook app in June 2024, aimed at empowering Nigerian creators to monetize their content and earn a livelihood through the platform. This announcement was made by Meta’s President of Global Affairs, Nick Clegg, following a meeting with President Tinubu at the presidential villa earlier today. Earlier in his remarks, Clegg expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for facilitating an executive order crucial to the landing of Meta-backed deep-sea cable infrastructure in Nigeria. He said, “It is an extraordinary infrastructure project. When it comes on stream in the first quarter of 2025, it will be twice as much as the capacity of all subsea cables that exist. “We buried the cable 50 per cent deeper than any other subsea cables under the seabed.” He further emphasised the cable’s potential economic impact, estimating, “It could yield up to 37 billion dollars worth of increase in economic activity in the next two or three years across the African continent.” Clegg then elaborated on Meta’s commitment, saying, “We have a lot to do with Nigeria to deepen partnerships,” and affirmed, “We will, in June 2024, introduce a feature on our Instagram app that will allow Nigerian creators to monetize their content to enable them to earn a living using the app.” Also speaking, Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, Dr ‘Bosun Tijani, Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy, echoed the importance of Meta platforms in Nigeria, stressing the need for collaborative engagements to drive development in the digital economy sector. He emphasised the importance of collaboration, stating, “We must continue to engage to create opportunities for our people so they can also share in global prosperity.”

  Dozens of passengers are said to have been kidnapped in a broad daylight attack launched by some bandits in the Kankara Local Government Area of Katsina State. The incident occurred on Thursday after the hoodlums intercepted an eighteen-seater bus with the registration number (14B-300-KT), loaded with passengers, belonging to the Katsina State Transport Authority. An eyewitness told Channels Television on a telephone call that most of the passengers on board were in transit from Funtua LGA to Katsina LGA. Although authorities concerned are yet to comment on the incident, the eyewitness said the incident occurred precisely between the Burdugau and Yargoje communities before reaching Kankara town. Kankara is one of the frontline local government areas in Katsina South where not only the residents but commuters live in fear of bandit attacks. The North-West state is one of Nigeria’s worst hit by banditry.

  Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, has explained how a private company held on to the sum of N32 billion paid into its account for the supply of three million prepaid metres in 2003. According to a statement by Bolaji Tunji, the minister’s spokesperson, on Wednesday, the federal government had entered a tripartite agreement with Messrs Ziklagsis Network Limited and Unistar International in 2003. The agreement, the minister said, was for the firm to supply meters to electricity distribution companies (DisCos) in the country within three years. To begin the project, he said the federal government released a “revolving metering loan” of N32 billion to Messrs Ziklagsis. “The agreement was not implemented while the fund remained in the bank account of Ziklagsis at the then Prudent Bank from where it moved to Skye Bank, Polaris and lately, Providus Bank,” the statement reads. With the privatisation of DisCos, Adelabu said the government proposed the metering of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to accurately determine the consumption of the MDAs and also reduce accumulated debts. “This was what led to the initiative to metre military formations nationwide,” he said. ‘FG INSTRUCTED US TO USE N32BN WITH ZIKLAGSIS’ Meanwhile, Adelabu denied reports that the mass metering project of military formations, which commenced last week, did not follow due process. He said the Nigerian army, concerned about its massive electricity debt, had written to the presidency to request assistance in paying off the outstanding debt and metering their formations. Adelabu said the ministry was instructed by the federal government to investigate the army’s request and use the N32 billion with Ziklagsis. “It was then that Ziklagsis was introduced to the Nigerian Army by the Ministry of Power. It was around this period that the Nigerian Army also introduced De Haryor Global Services to Ziklagsis to enable them to work together,” he said. “In November 2022, discussion began on the project among the parties and an agreement was signed between the Nigerian Army as a client, Messrs Ziklagsis as project supervisor and De Haryor Global Services as a service provider to commence the metering projects in Army barracks at a cost of N12.7billion, under the MDAs metering project. “This predates the appointment of Adelabu as Minister of Power. In spite of this, the money was not released to the service provider that had already gone ahead to seek funds for the acquisition of smart metres. Concerned about the over eight million metre gap in the country and the liquidity squeeze in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry, the minister said he wondered how money meant for a national project could be held up untouched for over 20 years by an individual. “He, therefore, mounted pressure and escalated the matter to the presidency for the retrieval of the revolving fund from Messrs Ziklagsis plus accrued interest to date. This was duly approved by the President,” the statement further reads. “Upon the President’s approval, N12.7 billion was therefore to be released in tranches to De Haryor Global Services to commence installation of already procured smart meters.” Therefore, the minister said he should be commended for his efforts in securing the recovery of the revolving metre fund which had been untouchable for over 20 years, thus enabling the eventual take-off of the project.

  The House of Representatives has passed the bill for upward review of salaries, allowances and fringe benefits for Judicial Office Holders across the country through Third Reading. The bill which seeks to amend Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, etc) Act, No. 6, 2002 (as amended) by deleting Section 2(b), Part II of the Schedule to the Act and any other provisions relating to Judicial Office Holders. The bill, when signed into law by President Bola Tinubu is to take effect from 1st January 2024. Part I of the schedule showed that the Chief Justice of Nigeria is entitled to: N13,462,617.95 annual basic salary or N1,121,884.83 monthly salary. The CJN is also entitled to: N51,157,948.21 annual regular allowances or N4,263,162.35 monthly regular allowances. He is also entitled to non-regular allowances of: N6,731,308.98 Leave Allowance (when applicable), N142,500 Duty Tour Allowance (per night); $2,000 estacode (per night); N80,775,707.70 severance gratuity (after successful completion of tenure) and N53,850,471.80 as motor vehicle loan (to be repaid before expiration of tenure), while Professional Development Assistant is to be paid from the NJC pool. Other Justices of the Supreme Court are to N9,913,394.22 annual basic salary or N826,116.19 monthly salary. Each of them is also entitled to: N50,558,310.52 annual regular allowances or N4,213,192.54 monthly regular allowances. Each of them is also entitled to non-regular allowances of: N9,913,394.22 for Rent (annually); N4,956,697.11 Leave Allowance (when applicable), N100,000 Duty Tour Allowance (per night); $1,300 estacode (per night); N29,740,182.66 severance gratuity (after successful completion of tenure), N29,740,182.66 furniture Allowance and N39,653,576.88 as motor vehicle loan (to be repaid before the expiration of tenure), while Professional Development Assistant is to be paid from the NJC pool. President of the Court of Appeal is entitled to N9,913,394.22 annual basic salary or N826,116.19 monthly salary. He/She is also entitled to: N52,540,989.37 annual regular allowances or N4,478,415.78 monthly regular allowances. He/She is also entitled to non-regular allowances of: N9,913,394.22 Rent (annually); N4,956,697.11 Leave Allowance (when applicable), N100,000 Duty Tour Allowance (per night); $1,300 estacode (per night); N29,740,182.66 severance gratuity (after successful completion of tenure), N29,740,182.66 furniture Allowance and N39,653,576.88 as motor vehicle loan (to be repaid before expiration of tenure), while Professional Development Assistant is to be paid from the NJC pool. Each of the Justices of the Court of Appeal is entitled to: N7,985,711.58 annual basic salary or N665,475.97 monthly salary. Each of them is also entitled to: N44,719,984.85 annual regular allowances or N3,726,665.40 monthly regular allowances. Each of them is also entitled to non-regular allowances of: N7,985,711.58 for Rent (annually); N3,992,855.79 Leave Allowance (when applicable), N85,500 Duty Tour Allowance (per night); $1,100 estacode (per night); N23,957,134.74 severance gratuity (after successful completion of tenure); N23,957,134.74 Furniture Allowance and N31,942,846.32 as motor vehicle loan (to be repaid before the expiration of tenure), while Professional Development Assistant is to be paid from the NJC pool. Also, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, the President of the National Industrial Court, the Chief Judge FCT High Court, Grand Khadi FCT Sharia Court of Appeal, the Resident FCT Customary Court of Appeal, Chief Judge State High Court, Grand Kadi State Sharia Court of Appeal and President State Customary Court of Appeal are all entitled to the same salaries, allowances and fringe benefits. Each of the Justices of the Court of Appeal is entitled to: N7,985,711.58 annual basic salary or N665,475.97 monthly salary. Each of them is also entitled to: N42,324,271.37 annual regular allowances or N3,527,022.61 monthly regular allowances. Each of them is also entitled to non-regular allowances of: N7,985,711.58 for Rent (annually); N3,992,855.79 Leave Allowance (when applicable), N85,500 Duty Tour Allowance (per night); $1,100 estacode (per night); N23,957,134.74 severance gratuity (after successful completion of tenure); N23,957,134.74 Furniture Allowance and N31,942,846.32 as motor vehicle loan (to be repaid before the expiration of tenure), while Professional Development Assistant is to be paid from the NJC pool. In the same vein, Judges of the Federal High Court, National Industrial Court, FCT High Court, FCT Customary Court of Appeal, State High Court, State Customary Court of Appeal, Kadis FCT Sharia Court of Appeal and Kadis State Sharia Court of Appeal are entitled to the same salaries, allowances and fringe benefits. Each of them is entitled to: N7,222,569.48 annual basic salary or N601,880.79 monthly salary. Each of them is also entitled to: N36,835,104.35 annual regular allowances or N3,069,592.03 monthly regular allowances. Each of them is also entitled to non-regular allowances of: N7,222,569.48 for Rent (annually); N3,611,284.74 Leave Allowance (when applicable), N57,000 Duty Tour Allowance (per night); $600 estacode (per night); N21,677,708.44 severance gratuity (after successful completion of tenure); N21,677,708.44 Furniture Allowance and N28,890,277.92 as motor vehicle loan (to be repaid before expiration of tenure), while Professional Development Assistant is to be paid from the NJC pool. The bill is expected to be transmitted to the President for assent.

  The family of the detained Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has said that the continued incarceration of their son despite appeals and several court orders to release him, “is a humiliation” of not just their son but “the entire Igbo race.” The family which was reacting to the recent refusal of Abuja Federal High Court to grant Kanu’s bail application, expressed furry over the ruling of the court and the fate of their son. Speaking on behalf of the family, Kanu’s younger brother, Prince Emmanuel Kanu, alleged that some selfish politicians who are benefiting from the insecurity in the South East, are behind Kanu’s continued detention. He wondered why it had become so difficult for Igbo political elite and leaders to book appointment for an audience with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to discuss Kanu’s matter nearly one year when the President took over power. ” How be it nobody among Igbo political leaders has reached Tinubu to discuss Nnamdi Kanu’s release almost a year he came to power? ” Is it not deliberate? Have they not been gaining access to the President concerning other issues? It’s a shame that Kanu is being punished for asking for the freedom of Ndigbo and the leaders have abandoned him to die in DSS custody. ” Kanu is terribly sick and nobody cares! His health is deteriorating everyday. He has not changed his clothe. Why has the court continued to hold him at DSS custody instead of Correctional Centre?” Kanu’s family insisted that some people are benefiting from his continued incarceration hence the apparent apathy on the part of the political elite to engage the President for his release. ” Why can’t they go for his release if they truly love the South East? Something is definitely wrong somewhere. They are benefiting from his continued detention, and that’s why they are not making any serious move to engage Mr President. Don’t forget that some people sponsored his abduction and extraordinary rendition. ” Why should he be abandoned for asking the freedom of Biafra? He didn’t take up arms against Government but he was tagged a terrorist. Yet the same Government is busy releasing terrorists from detention.” The family threatened to expose the beneficiaries of their son’s continued incarceration and the insecurity in the South East region. According to the family, those behind Kanu’s ordeals would be held accountable by the Igbo nation and Biafrans at large should anything untoward happen to him. “If they fail to act, Ndigbo and Biafrans at large must hold them responsible. And it may get to a point where the masses may no longer be held back. ” Nobody dies with any secret. Very soon all those behind Kanu’s continued detention will be exposed. Those benefiting from the insecurity in the South East are the ones enjoying his continued stay in detention. But nothing lasts forever. One day they will be out of power.” The family expressed furry that Kanu who on his own had assisted in getting justice for illegally detained inmates had been left to suffer alone. ” Kanu has single handedly funded the release of inmates from different tribes who were unjustly detained while he was at Kuje prison last time. Why should he be now abandoned to rot in DSS custody?” Kanu’s family further expressed sadness over the refusal of Justice Binta Nyako to grant him bail. The family wondered if the trial Judge had taken time to go through the certified true copy (CTC), of the Supreme Court ruling on the matter which held that the Federal High Court ought not to have revoked Kanu’s bail in the first place. According to the family, if truly the trial Judge had digested the CTC of the Supreme Court judgment, the court would not have denied him his bail application at the last hearing on Monday. Kanu’s family argued that the IPOB Leader “is never afraid of standing trial”, but only regretted that “the conditions they subjected him to do not guarantee justice”. ” Why can’t they allow him to change his clothes? Why will they keep him in DSS custody for years instead of sending him to Kuje Correctional Centre where he can have access to his doctors? ” Has the court bothered to know if its orders are obeyed by the DSS? The way Kanu is being humiliated and handled does not show fairness. The court should not create the impression that it’s acting a script”.