Motorists sleep at filling stations as petrol scarcity bites harder (Sun)
Motorists in Lagos are currently contending with acute shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol over what industry observers described as massive drop in import level.
Their counterparts in Abuja and many parts of the north are currently agonising as they now sleep at filling stations to get the vital product.
In a filling station in the Igando area of Lagos, motorists were allegedly forced to buy meatpie before buying petrol. The development made customers restive as they took on the management. Read more
We’re using technology to fight corruption — Tinubu (Tribune)
President Bola Tinubu has said his administration is investing in technology that is tailored towards ensuring transparency and accountability in government and accelerating public-sector performance and service delivery to the Nigerian people.
He made the remark during a meeting with Microsoft Founder and Philanthropist, Mr. Bill Gates, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum Special Meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday.
President Tinubu said technology is a potent weapon against corruption and financial impropriety in public service. Read more
Nigerian man, Vietnamese wife arrested in Vietnam for money laundering (Punch)
Vietnamese authorities in Ho Chi Minh City have arrested a 28-year-old Nigerian man, Eneh Davidson Caleb, along with his Vietnamese wife Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, 35, and 11 others on suspicion of money laundering and cross-border money trafficking.
According to foreign news outlet, VN Express International on Saturday, Caleb is accused of orchestrating a scheme involving over 250 fake companies to launder money for international criminals.
The statement said, “Eneh Davidson Caleb, 28, along with his Vietnamese wife Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, 35, and 11 others have been detained by HCMC police on charges of money laundering and illegally trafficking money across borders. Read more
ISPON begins enforcement of safety compliance nationwide (Nation)
The Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) has started the enforcement of safety compliance in the both private and public sectors across the country.
The national president of the ISPON, Timothy Iwuagwu, who disclosed this in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, at the weekend, said its decision to enforce safety compliance was by the provisions of its Act, no 2 of 2014
Iwuagwu spoke to journalists as part of activities marking the 2024 World Day for Safety and Health with the theme “Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Occupational Safety and Health.” Read more
Police commence investigation into assassination of Aiyedatiwa’s campaign coordinator (Vanguard)
The Returning Officer of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Supare Akoko, South West council area of Ondo state, in the just concluded governorship primary election, Alaba Abe, aka Excel, has reportedly been assassinated.
Abe, who was also the ward 10 coordinator of the party in the council area, served as the returning officer for Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa in the governorship primary election on April 20.
The victims death was confirmed by his elder brother, Samuel Abbey. Read more
Nigeria not ripe for State police – Sen. Suswam (DailyTrust)
Former Benue governor, Gabriel Suswam, has kicked against the call for the establishment of a State Police, saying Nigeria is not mature enough for it.
“I won’t support the idea of having a Police Force controlled by the state governors. It is not good for Nigeria.
“The Inspector-General of Police has said that Nigeria is not mature for it and I agree with him totally,” Suswam told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja. Read more
‘‘Unfortunate’’ tanker explosion caused 5 deaths, 120 vehicles burnt – Fubara (Channels)
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says about five persons have been confirmed dead in the petroleum tanker explosion that occurred in the state on Friday night.
He also said about 120 cars were also destroyed in the inferno.
The accident was said to have happened when a truck conveying fertilizers from the Indorama petrochemical plant scratched open a tanker laden with Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as Petrol. Read more
FOI Act: Akpabio, NASS Clerk promise open doors to journalists (Independent)
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and the Clerk of the National Assembly, Sani Tambawal, has promised to cooperate with journalists seeking information under the Freedom of Information Act, in line with public good.
Represented by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu (APC Ekiti South), said the Senate under his leadership would not deny any journalist access to public interest information.
He said this in his paper presentation at the Retreat held by the Senate Press Corps at Al – Vari Hotel Keffi, Nasarawa State on Saturday. Read more
UN concerned by reports of imminent attack in Sudan’s North Darfur region (AfricaNews)
The United Nations Security Council on Saturday sounded the alarm over reports of an imminent attack on the last remaining city in Sudan’s North Darfur region that is not under the control of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).
Fighting over the past year between the paramilitary group and the country’s military has seen tens of thousands of people die and more than eight million people displaced across the nation.
As the UN expressed its “deep concern”, calling on the warring parties to take steps to “de-escalate” the situation, local media in Sudan were reporting that a full-scale attack on the city of al-Fashir was already underway. Read more
Taylor Swift says her ‘mind is blown’ by the ‘love’ fans have shown for her new album (People)
Taylor Swift is feeling the love for The Tortured Poets Department!
In an Instagram post on Sunday, April 28, the “Down Bad” singer, 34, thanked fans for the support and love they’ve shown the album by posting a behind-the-scenes carousel of images from the recording studio.
“My mind is blown. I’m completely floored by the love you’ve shown this album,” she wrote in the caption for the set of photos, which also featured her Tortured Poets Department collaborators Post Malone and Florence and the Machine. Read more
Missing autistic boy last seen on 363-metre-high hill found ‘safe and well’ (Metro)
An autistic boy who vanished while he was out on Rivington Pike, Lancashire, has been found ‘safe and well’.
Wearing a black coat that says ‘adventure’ on it, James was last seen on the 363-metre-high hill about a mile northeast of Horwich at 12.30pm today.
Rivington Pike is well-known among locals as a go-to hiking spot, with the summit offering a view of the West Pennine Moors. Read more
Palestinian President Abbas says only US can halt Israel’s attack on Rafah (AlJazeera)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas says only the United States could stop Israel from attacking the border city of Rafah in Gaza, adding that the assault, which he expects within days, could force much of the Palestinian population to flee the enclave.
“We call on the United States of America to ask Israel to not carry on the Rafah attack. America is the only country able to prevent Israel from committing this crime,” Abbas told a special meeting of the World Economic Forum in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Sunday.
Israel, which has threatened for weeks to launch an all-out assault on the city, saying its goal is to destroy Hamas’s remaining battalions there, stepped up air attacks on Rafah last week. Read more
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at campuses as colleges crack down on encampments (NBC)
Students at dozens of universities in the U.S. and Canada are continuing to protest for Palestinian human rights after months of war in Gaza.
Most student organizations participating in protests and encampments on campuses have similar demands of their administrations, including divestment from companies that could be profiting from the war and transparency regarding where they’re investing their money.
Many universities have said they support freedom of speech and will allow protests on campus, but that encampments violate school policy. On Saturday, dozens of people were arrested at colleges that cracked down on encampments, including Northeastern University, where about 100 people were detained. Read more
David Cameron accused of acting ‘like a Kardashian sister’ as he hires £42million VIP plane (Mirror)
The Foreign Secretary chartered an Embraer Lineage 1000 – described as ‘one of the best luxury private jets money can buy’ – for a diplomatic jaunt around Central Asia
David Cameron has been accused of swanning around the world like a “Kardashian sister” by hiring a £42million VIP plane.
The Foreign Secretary chartered an aircraft described as “one of the best luxury private jets money can buy” for a five-day diplomatic jaunt around Central Asia. The Embraer Lineage 1000 has its own dining table where meals can be served, as well as a separate relaxation zone with extra-long sofas. It can sleep up to nine passengers. Read more
Tornado kills at least 5, injures 33, in Chinese metropolis as region battles deadly floods (CNN)
At least five people were killed and 33 injured in a tornado Saturday that struck Guangzhou, a city of 19 million people in southern China, according to Chinese state media.
Authorities say 141 factory buildings were damaged but no residential houses collapsed, according to the Xinhua news agency. It said a preliminary assessment put the tornado at level-three intensity, two below the highest level of five.
Guangzhou, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) from Hong Kong, is the capital city of Guangdong province. Read more
Para badminton: More tributes for Bolaji after historic performance in Spain (Channels)
More tributes are pouring in for Nigeria’s para badminton player, Mariam Bolaji, who made history again after winning gold at the Spanish Para-Badminton International 2024 Level 1 tournament in Toledo, Spain.
Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has congratulated the Kwara-born Bolaji on her historic performance and also encouraged persons living with any form of disability to be motivated and believe that hard work and determination can take them to greater heights.
“These successive feats of Bolaji again underline the fact that disabilities exist only in our imagination. We are excited about the deserving successes of Bolaji whose talents, hard work, and focus have rightly earned her a choice place in the global badminton community,” the governor said. Read more
Sports Minister ‘‘putting pressure on NFF to appoint Amuneke’’ (Sun)
A top official has pointedly accused Sports Minister John Enoh of putting pressure on the NFF to appoint his own candidate, Emmanuel Amuneke, as the new Super Eagles coach.
The NFF technical committee has named Enyimba coach Finidi George as the preferred choice for the Super Eagles coach after the Sports Minister had overruled it on the hiring of a foreign coach to lead the country’s team.
The Minister has also told the NFF the Government will not foot the salary of a foreign coach and as such they should look inwards for the man to take charge of the Super Eagles. Read more
GWR boxing: Bash Alli’s serial blackmail must be confronted, defeated — Sports Minister (Leadership)
The minister of sports development, Senator John Owan-Enoh, has vowed to confront the former World Boxing Champion, Bash Alli, and his alleged serial blackmail over his plan to stage a Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight in Nigeria, saying the 68-year-old boxer has thrown caution and decency to the wind.
Senator Enoh, who was reacting to a trending video and open letter to President Bola Tinubu, in which Bash Alli, a former World Boxing Federation Cruiserweight Champion, alleged that the Sports Minister demanded the sum of $1million from him in order to endorse his plan to stage a Guinness World Record Boxing Championship fight in Nigeria, said ignoring the former boxer’s sole aim of defaming and destroying his reputation will be a profound mistake.
Enoh said: “After a deep reflection, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that to ignore him will be a profound mistake. My reason for this is two fold. First, the perception in the public domain is that those in the public service are either thieves or kleptomaniacs who mindlessly pillage our Commonwealth. Read more
Ex-Scotland captain Hogg ‘resets’ in rehab after arrest (BBC)
Stuart Hogg says he has “reset” at a rehabilitation clinic after being arrested and charged last month.
The former Scotland captain, 31, was released by police following an incident in his hometown of Hawick on an undertaking to appear at Jedburgh Sheriff Court at a later date.
Hogg retired from rugby union prior to last year’s World Cup, having amassed a century of senior caps and been involved in three British and Irish Lions tours. Read more
Osimhen bags goal No. 13 as Napoli hold Roma (CompleteSports)
Super Eagles striker, Victor Osimhen was at his best mettle as he netted a goal in Napoli’s 2-2 draw against Roma in Sunday’s Serie A game.
The Nigerian international, who was making his 22 appearances for Napoli, has scored 13 goals and bagged three assists this ongoing season.
Paolo Dybala scored the opening goal in the 59th minute to silence the home supporters before Olivera leveled parity for Napoli in the 64th minute. Read more
Qatar hosts ECAHO annual general meeting (GulfTimes)
Qatar hosted the 41st Annual General Meeting of the European Conference of Arab Horse Organizations (ECAHO), which concluded in Doha yesterday with the participation of all members of the Board of Directors of the ECHO and representatives of member states from 28 countries.
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Acting CEO Bader Mohamed al-Darwish and Saad al-Kubaisi represented QREC, which is the one Arab body to join ECAHO having great interest and wonderful experience in organising Arabian horse beauty championships, as well as participating in the international championships.
The meeting held at Marsa Malaz Kempinski, The Pearl, included many discussions and decisions, the most important of which was discussing the minutes of the previous ECAHO meeting held in London in April last year, changing the full membership from the Royal Cavalry of Oman to the Equestrian Federation in the Sultanate of Oman. Read more