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X: Paid Twitter subscribers have the ability to conceal their verification badges

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Social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, now allows verified users to opt for concealing their verification checkmarks.

According to the Twitter support page, subscribers can choose to hide the checkmark on their profiles and posts, although it might still be visible in certain areas due to active subscription status.

While the checkmark is hidden, some features may be restricted, and the platform promises ongoing improvements for this feature.

Last year, the Elon Musk-owned platform introduced paid verification alongside the Twitter Blue redesign, incorporating XBlue into its rebranding process.

The ‘About Twitter Blue’ support page for premium subscribers has been updated to clarify that even if the checkmark is hidden, it may still be visible in specific contexts, with no further details provided by the company.

The introduction of paid verification sparked controversy, as distinguishing between users who paid for the checkmark and those with legacy verified accounts became challenging.

Although Twitter initially removed legacy checkmarks in April, they later reinstated them for select accounts, regardless of payment.

To incentivize user engagement, the platform has introduced features such as a 10,000 character limit for posts, a 3-hour video upload limit, reduced timeline advertisements, and most recently, ad revenue sharing for subscription users.

 

Jumia Food plans to conclude its operations in Nigeria by the conclusion of 2023

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Jumia is set to discontinue its food delivery service, Jumia Food, in all operational countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Tunisia, Uganda, and Algeria by the end of December 2023.

The company’s focus across its 11 operational nations will shift towards the Jumia Pay platform and its core physical goods business.

Despite Jumia Food contributing 11% to Jumia’s Gross Merchandise Value in the first nine months of 2023, the service has struggled to turn a profit since its inception.

In that period, the total value of food sold on Jumia Food amounted to $64 million, representing 11% of $581 million, showcasing the service’s substantial scale but not its profitability.

While Jumia Food demonstrated an impressive 82% year-over-year growth in 2021, it faced challenges in 2023, experiencing a significant decline in Quarterly Active Customers and Orders.

This shift was a strategic move to focus on profitable areas and reduce customer incentives to enhance overall profitability.

Concerning Jumia Food staff, the company states that some will transition to the primary physical goods division, potentially leading to layoffs.

Coinciding with Jumia Food’s closure, Bolt Food, a major player in the African food delivery industry, has announced its exit from South Africa and Nigeria in December 2023.

Bolt Food’s demise is attributed to economic downturns, high inflation, and intense competition from established rivals like Jumia Food, Gokada, and Uber Eats, despite its efforts to expand into major Nigerian cities such as Lagos.

 

Naira Marley alleges defamation by Iyabo Ojo, seeks compensation of N500 million

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Nigerian entertainer Afeez Fashola, widely known as Naira Marley, has initiated legal proceedings against actress Iyabo Ojo, accusing her of disseminating false and defamatory content on her Instagram account.

In a letter sent by Naira Marley’s lawyer, Olalekan Ojo, the allegations stem from a September 2023 post where Iyabo Ojo purportedly accused Naira Marley of engaging in spiritual and physical dealings with the late singer Mohbad, also known as Ilerioluwa Aloba.

The lawyer asserts that Ojo accused Naira Marley of causing mental harm to Mohbad, whom she referred to as a brother. Seeking redress, Naira Marley’s attorney is demanding N500 million and a public apology.

The apology is requested to be posted on Ojo’s official Instagram account and published in a national daily.

Failure to comply with these conditions would prompt Naira Marley’s legal team to pursue a lawsuit against Ojo.

The letter emphasizes the serious impact of the false accusations on Naira Marley’s reputation, resulting in widespread damage and public ridicule.

Kyari justifies the exclusive fuel import monopoly held by NNPC

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Mele Kyari, the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, defended the company’s fuel import monopoly, asserting that oil marketers withdrew due to price volatility in the downstream sector.

Addressing the Senate Committee on Finance, Kyari assured lawmakers that despite the monopoly, the downstream sector faced no issues.

He attributed the withdrawal of oil companies to challenges imposed by the Petroleum Industry Act. Kyari expressed confidence that by the first quarter of the next year, market stability would improve, narrowing the gap between parallel and import-export exchange rates.

Additionally, he asserted that the 2024 budget’s crude oil production projections and $77.96 price benchmark were realistic and achievable, citing market trends and the cumulative oil production figure of 1.785mbpd, inclusive of crude oil and condensate.

 

Gunmen fatally shoot a woman and seize seven individuals on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

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Suspected gunmen, reportedly clad in military attire, abducted seven individuals in the Fidiwo area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday.

During the attack, the armed men, who allegedly numbered around 15, intercepted a vehicle, fired shots, and kidnapped the occupants. Tragically, one person was shot dead while attempting to escape.

Another female passenger in a separate vehicle, witnessing the incident, suffered gunshot wounds and is in critical condition, while an unidentified woman was fatally shot.

A source, preferring anonymity, shared details with PUNCH Metro, describing how the armed men fled into the bush with the kidnapped victims.

The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola, confirmed the incident, revealing that the police had initiated a manhunt for the suspected kidnappers.

The victims, including parents, were taken into the bush, while the reporting individual and her siblings were left behind.

One of the victims was successfully rescued on Tuesday through a coordinated bush-combing operation led by senior police officers.

Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alamutu, assured residents not to panic, emphasizing ongoing efforts to rescue the remaining victims.

 

Tinubu dismisses leaders of five aviation agencies and places the head of NCAA on suspension

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President Bola Tinubu took decisive action on Wednesday by dismissing the heads of various aviation agencies, appointing new acting and substantive leaders.

Notable changes include Mr. Kabir Mohammed at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. Tayib Odunowo at the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, Akinola Olateru at the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Prof. Mansur Matazu at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, and Alkali Modibbo as the Rector of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology.

In a statement titled ‘President Tinubu approves leadership changes in the Aviation and Aerospace Development Sector,’ Tinubu suspended the Director-General of the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority,

Captain Musa Nuhu, enabling the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to conduct an investigation into the activities of the suspended Director-General and other senior officials.

Furthermore, President Tinubu appointed Mrs. Olubunmi Kuku as the Managing Director of FAAN, Umar Farouk as the Managing Director of NAMA, and Mr. Alex Badeh Jr. as the Director-General of the NSIB.

Prof. Charles Anosike was named the Director-General of NiMET, Mr. Joseph Imalighwe as the Acting Rector of NCAT, and Mr. Chris Najomo assumed office as the Acting Director-General of the NCAA immediately.

President Tinubu approved the commencement of the process, led by the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to recruit a substantive Vice-Chancellor and other principal officers of the African Aviation and Aerospace University.

The president emphasized his commitment to bringing world-class standards to Nigerian Civil Aviation and urged the new leadership to prioritize safety, convenience, and comfort for the Nigerian people.

Acknowledging the cost of underperformance in the sector, the President called for the immediate establishment of world-class policy design, implementation, and regulatory frameworks to align with his Renewed Hope Agenda. All directives take immediate effect.

 

The federal government grants universities, polytechnics, and other institutions an exemption from IPPIS

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On Wednesday, the Federal Government granted approval to exclude universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and other tertiary institutions from the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS).

Henceforth, salaries for staff in these institutions will no longer be processed through the IPPIS platform, according to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris.

This decision, aimed at providing autonomy for the efficient management of public educational institutions, was disclosed after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja.

Minister Idris clarified that the IPPIS lacked the flexibility needed for tertiary institutions to govern their affairs independently.

Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman, emphasized that the move was unrelated to the integrity of IPPIS or other proposed systems, but rather focused on enhancing the universities’ autonomy.

The decision responds to concerns about universities’ ability to manage their personnel and payroll effectively, as autonomy granted by laws has been eroded by IPPIS.

The IPPIS, introduced in 2006 for personnel record management, has faced resistance from the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), which advocates for the University Transparency and Accountability Solution (UTAS). ASUU argues that IPPIS undermines autonomy and fails to accommodate the unique aspects of academic work.

Despite government efforts to enforce IPPIS, tensions persist, leading to strikes and disruptions in academic activities.

The government’s decision to exempt tertiary institutions aims to address these concerns and foster a more effective and autonomous educational environment.

 

Shareholders thwart PZ Cussons’ efforts to implement capital reduction plans

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PZ Cussons Nigeria Plc shareholders have rescinded resolutions from the 74th Annual General Meeting, approving a reduction in share capital.

The reversal, disclosed in a statement to the Nigerian Exchange Limited, occurred at the 75th AGM in Abuja. Months earlier, the majority shareholder, PZ Cussons (Holdings) Limited, proposed acquiring shares from other stakeholders.

Originally offering N21 per share, it increased to N23. During the latest AGM, shareholders unanimously canceled prior resolutions on share capital reduction and amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association, citing challenges in obtaining foreign currency and reliance on the PZ Cussons Group for financial support.

 

From hawker to Africa’s football king – Osimhen’s journey unfolds in my story

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Newly crowned CAF 2023 African Player of The Year, Victor Osimhen, on Tuesday penned a gratifying message to celebrate his top prize,

In an extended message posted on his X account, the Napoli striker told an inspiring story of how he started as a hawker on the streets of Olusosun in Lagos to becoming a global icon in football.

On Monday, the Napoli striker beat Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to the star prize at the awards ceremony in Marrakech.

Reflecting on his journey to stardom, the 24-year-old wrote, “As a young boy who came from the streets of Olusosun, who had to hawk in traffic almost every day of the week while growing in order to survive the numerous challenges my family and I were facing, becoming a Treasure in Africa and World Football was a wild dream. Words can’t express the joy in my heart; this is a very special moment for me.

My football journey has been a rollercoaster of highs, tough lows and emotions. The goals, echoes and jubilation of victories keep me going even when the critics, hate and pain of defeats hit me hard in the chest. The support of my amazing family, my fans most especially my Nigerian supporters and the love for the beautiful game of football motivates me to aim higher daily.”

He added, “Losing my dear parents in the course of this journey leaves a scar in my heart as they have always been my major driving force for success since I was a kid, may their souls continue to rest in peace

To my wonderful family thanks for always having my back and loving me so much. I wouldn’t have made it this far without your esteemed support.

To my fans and Nigerian supporters, your dedication in supporting me on the good days and bad days do not go unnoticed, even amidst the arrows of hatred thrown at me y’all still stood by my side. I am grateful.

“Winning the CAF Best African Player 2023 is a testament to my hard work, your love and support. I am so proud of myself for achieving this prestigious award.

“Thank you CAF, to all the coaches I have played under both local and international, your wisdom and knowledge have played huge roles in guiding my footballing career, thank you so much.

“I am sure my parents in heaven are smiling at me, this is for you.

“I also congratulate Chiamaka Nnadozie and Asisat Oshoala for their prestigious awards. Dreams do come true! Thank you, everyone, GOD is the greatest.”

Sanwo-Olu unveils a robust N2.2 trillion budget for the year 2024 before the Assembly

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On Wednesday, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, unveiled a budget estimate of N2.2 trillion for the 2024 fiscal year at the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Titled “Budget of Renewal,” the proposal allocates 45% (N1.02 trillion) for recurrent expenditure and 55% (N1.22 trillion) for capital expenditure.

Sanwo-Olu emphasized that the budget aims to alleviate the impact of fuel subsidy removal and economic challenges in Lagos.

Guided by the T.H.E.M.E.+ Agenda, the budget builds on previous years’ strategies, aiming to consolidate the achievements of his administration.

Reflecting on the 2023 budget, the governor reported 78% implementation by the end of quarter three, projecting a 90% completion by year-end.