Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the top stories you should not miss.

FG declares Monday public holiday

In commemoration of this year’s Democracy Day, the Federal Government has declared Monday, June 14, as public holiday.

Interior Minister, Rauf Aregbesola, made the announcement on Thursday urging Nigerians to shun all forms of agitation that may threaten the country’s unity. – The Cable reports

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FG abandons Twitter for Koo

Days after suspending giant microblogging platform, Twitter; the Federal Government has opened an account with Indian microblogging platform, Koo.

The development is considered an apparent move by the Nigerian government to completely distance itself from the platform it accused of threatening the country’s corporate existence.

The new Koo account has already garnered thousands of followers, with the platform’s CEO, Aprameya Radhakrishna, not only confirming its availability in Nigeria but also promising inclusion of Nigerian languages. – The Cable reports

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NBC orders all social media platforms and blogs to obtain broadcast licence

In the wake of the embargo placed on the availability of Twitter in Nigeria’s cyberspace, the Nigerian government through the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) on Thursday issued a fresh notice to all social media platforms and online broadcasting service providers, including blogs operating in Nigeria to apply for broadcast licence.

The new directive which affects Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, TikTok and blogs, among other digital platforms, was given by NBC Director-General, Armstrong Idachaba via newspaper advertisement on Thursday, June 10, 2021.

The commission also warned that any online broadcast service provider that fails to obtain a licence risks getting banned. – Nigerian Tribune reports

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CBN to launch digital currency before December

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced plans to have its own digital currency before the end of 2021.

CBN’s Director of Information Technology, Rakiya Mohammed disclosed this on Thursday, informing journalists that the CBN had been exploring digital currency for over two years and plans to launch its own digital currency this year.

“Before the end of the year, the Central Bank will be making a special announcement and possibly launching a pilot scheme in order to be able to provide this kind of currency to the populace,”

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Students and lecturers abducted at Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Kaduna

Suspected gunmen have attacked the Nuhu Bamali Polytechnic, Zaria, Kaduna State, abducting scores of students and lecturers in the institution.

The incident was reported by an eyewitness to have happened on Thursday night.

“The gunmen attacked the school last night. Unspecified numbers of students and lecturers were said to have been abducted,” said the eyewitness. – The Punch reports