The Government of Akwa Ibom State has made an important update to its Work Free Farming Days policy. Starting from June 2025, civil servants will now observe Work Free Farming Days on the first Friday of each month only, instead of the previous arrangement on the 1st and 3rd Fridays.

This adjustment, approved by Governor Pastor Umo Eno, Ph.D, is aimed at improving public service delivery while still promoting agricultural empowerment among government workers.

By focusing the farming day to just once a month, officials can better balance their civic duties with efforts to boost food production in Nigeria.

Workers in essential roles such as the Governor’s Office, Deputy Governor’s Office, SSG’s Office, Office of the Head of Service, and other emergency services are not required to participate.

All Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are expected to comply with this new directive. This move supports youth agriculture empowerment, government farming initiatives, and sustainable farming practices, which are key components of Akwa Ibom’s broader economic plan.

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The government encourages everyone to take full advantage of this opportunity to contribute to local food supply while maintaining a strong and efficient public service system.

Popular social media activist and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, better known as VeryDarkMan (VDM), has been released on bail following his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The arrest happened on Friday at a branch of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) in Abuja.

VDM’s legal representative, Deji Adeyanju, confirmed his release, stating that the EFCC granted bail after days of engagement with the commission.

According to Adeyanju, special thanks go to Marvin Omorogbe, head of their legal firm, and all Nigerians who spoke out in support. He also appreciated high-profile supporters such as Peter Obi, Atiku Abubakar, Davido, and other opposition figures who demanded VDM’s release.

The arrest of VDM sparked massive public attention and stirred up controversy across digital platforms. Young Nigerians and influencers voiced their concerns about what they saw as an abuse of power, further fueling the public conversation around freedom of speech and the responsibilities of law enforcement.

On Monday, the EFCC officially confirmed VDM’s arrest. Their spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, explained that the commission was acting on petitions received from members of the public. He emphasized that EFCC must protect the identities of those who file such complaints and clarified that the case would proceed to court once bail conditions had been met.

Following his detention, several youths protested in Abuja, demanding justice and his immediate release. The protestors labeled his arrest as unfair and accused the agency of silencing a voice that speaks out for the people.

This incident has once again brought national focus to issues surrounding digital rights, legal activism, and public accountability.

The attention from influential voices and political figures has highlighted the growing power of online advocacy in Nigeria. With VDM now out on bail, many Nigerians are watching to see how the case develops.

The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched the NIMC NIN Authentication Service (NINAuth) to make identity verification more secure, seamless, and accessible. This move is part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda to strengthen Nigeria’s digital identity system. The NINAuth service is now the official way to verify identities across all government platforms, helping people easily access essential services.

The NINAuth application is a secure system that works with the National Identity Management Commission’s backend infrastructure. It gives Nigerians and legal residents more control over their personal data. Before any information is shared, users must give their clear permission. This builds trust and protects privacy while ensuring smooth Know Your Customer (KYC) processes.

With the NIN verification service, users can easily access and complete tasks such as sim registration, renewing driver’s licenses, processing passports, and applying for government programs. It also helps with tax filing, financial transactions, and other important activities tied to one’s digital identity.

A key advantage of this service is its high-level data security, which helps prevent identity theft and unauthorized access. It also makes it easier for people to use one secure sign-on to connect with different government services. This improves service delivery and ensures only verified individuals can access sensitive platforms.

NINAuth’s API and mobile integration features make it easier for businesses and government departments to perform real-time identity checks. This helps reduce delays and supports better decision-making across sectors. Financial institutions, for example, can quickly verify identities, helping with faster approvals and reducing fraud—a top priority in the digital finance industry.

The NINAuth application is now the exclusive platform for all identity verification and authentication processes in Nigeria. This means all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must use it for any identity-related service. It also promotes database harmonization, which supports Nigeria’s goal of having a unified identity system for better planning and governance.

To get started, individuals must download the NINAuth app from the Google Play Store or Apple iOS App Store. The full implementation guide and process flow are available on the official NIMC website at https://ninauth.nimc.gov.ng.

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This move supports the growing need for secure identity verification services, which are essential for accessing mobile banking, online transactions, and various high-demand government services in Nigeria.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has officially released its statement on the case involving Martins Innocent Otse, popularly known as VDM. According to the commission, the case began after receiving several petitions accusing him of various financial crimes.

These allegations were serious enough to trigger a formal investigation under the EFCC’s mandate to fight economic and financial crimes in Nigeria.

Despite multiple invitations sent to VDM through known channels, he reportedly refused to appear before the EFCC. This led to increased concerns about financial misconduct. The Commission emphasized that the issues raised in the petitions are significant and cannot be overlooked.

While VDM has been critical of the EFCC on social media and other platforms, the agency insists that his arrest was not influenced by those attacks. Rather, they are focused strictly on the allegations of fraud and economic crime, which are now under investigation by the appropriate authorities.

VDM is currently in EFCC custody, with a legal Remand Order obtained for his detention. However, he has been granted administrative bail and will be released once all conditions are met. This follows due legal process, which is part of how the EFCC handles financial crime cases.

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The Commission thanked the public for its strong interest but urged Nigerians to stop making negative assumptions about its motives. The EFCC promised to file charges as soon as the investigation is complete, in line with the law.