N200b Debt: Petrol scarcity to worsen as marketers threaten withdrawal of services (Leadership)
The current spate of petrol scarcity may worsen if independent petrol marketers go ahead to carry out their threat to withdraw their services.
Marketers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said on Tuesday that they will stop the supply of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, if the federal government fails to pay the N200 billion outstanding bridging claims owed them.
The threat comes following current nationwide scarcity which has seen prices of petrol surge to between N610 and N800 per litre at the pump, and between N1,000 and N1,400 at black market. Read more
Fuel scarcity cripples socio-economic activities (Nation)
Petrol scarcity has crippled socio-economic activities in Kano and its environs, with residents wasting many man-hours looking for fuel.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the situation has forced motorists to abandon their routine schedules to search for petrol at filling stations.
The development is also telling on the city’s socio-economic lives as many of the residents have closed their business premises, while others have suspended their planned visits to friends and relations. Read more
Kizz Daniel, Tekno in war of words over ‘Buga’ (Punch)
Nigerian music stars, Daniel Anidugbe, aka Kizz Daniel and Miles Kelechi, aka Tekno, were embroiled in a public spat after a social media post claimed that Kizz Daniel had been sending Tekno a share of the revenue generated by hit song “Buga.”
The controversy was ignited by an X post from an account (name withheld) that alleged an interview where Tekno talked about Kizz Daniel.
The allegation post on April 14 said, “I got on Kizz Daniel’s Buga with no sort of legal agreement. I wasn’t expecting anything from him. Wanted to be silent about this but I think some levels of gratitude deserve to be spoken of. Read more
Kano tasked to address influx of young women begging on streets (Tribune)
An Islamic scholar, Sheikh Malam Ali Dan Abba, has stressed the need for the Kano state government to address the influx of young women seen begging on the streets.
He made the assertion on Tuesday in Kano during his daily lecture. The Chief Imam emphasized the urgency for the Kano state government to address this pressing issue.
He then highlighted the alarming situation where many women, including young mothers with children, are resorting to begging on the streets of Kano. Sheikh Abba also emphasized the need for the community and authorities to address the root causes behind the influx of women and children begging on the streets. Read more
Suspend implementation of new tariff, reps tell NERC (Channels)
The House of Representatives has directed the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the implementation of the new incremental tariff on Band A customers.
The lower chamber agreed upon this at the house resolution during a plenary session on Tuesday.
According to them, the resolution followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance by Kama Nkemkanma. Read more
FG plans clampdown on Lagos illegal sand miners, installs CCTV (Punch)
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that closed-circuit television and solar lights would be installed on the Third Mainland Bridge by June to check the activities of illegal miners in the infrastructure.
Umahi said this after a routine inspection of the under-deck project at Iddo Bridge, Carter Bridge, and the Third Mainland bridges in Lagos.
He said, “Berger is the contractor doing the Iddo Bridge, Carter Bridge, and Third Mainland Bridge, and we have seen the pace of work made and are happy with it, also we have promised to increase the pace of work against the incoming lagoon tide in June. Read more
Electricity tariff hike: You’ve failed Nigerians, Falana blasts Power minister (DailyTrust)
Human Rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has slammed the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, over failure to deliver constant supply of electricity despite increasing tariff for Nigerians using Band A.
In what he described as “the illegality of tariffs”, Falana said the federal government and Adelabu could not defend the impunity that formed the hike, adding that they have failed Nigerians.
Falana said this while appearing as a guest on a Channels TV programme. Read more
Minister of Industries, Trade and Investment to declare NAJA’s NASU open in Lagos (Independent)
The Minister of Industries, Trade and investment, Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anit, is expected to declare open the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU).
NASU in its maiden edition and organised by the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) would on Thursday, June 27, 2024 in Lagos.
A statement by Femi Owoeye, Chairman, Organising Committee, NAISU, said that the one day event with the theme: ‘Reviving Nigeria’s Economy through the Automotive Sector,’ was in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). Read more
Cannes 2024: Lily Gladstone, Hirokazu Kore-eda and 5 others join Greta Gerwig in jury (EasternEye)
The Killers of the Flower Moon breakout Lily Gladstone, Palme d’Or-winning Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda, and French stars Eva Green and Omar Sy on Monday were announced among the members of the 77th Cannes Film Festival Competition jury panel, headed by Barbie filmmaker Greta Gerwig.
According to the festival website, the nine-member jury will also include Turkish screenwriter and photographer Ebru Ceylan (co-writer of 2014 Palme d’Or winner Winter Sleep), Lebanese director and screenwriter Nadine Labaki of Capernaum fame, Society of the Snow director Juan Antonio Bayona from Spain, and Italian actor Pierfrancisco Favino.
With Gerwig at the helm, the panel comprises five women and four men. Read more
Drum and bass pioneer MC Conrad dies aged 52 (Metro)
Drum and bass pioneer MC Conrad – known offstage as Conrad Thompson – has died aged 52.
Clinic Records released a statement which read: ‘We’re sorry to say that MC Conrad passed away in April 2024.
‘One of the most recognisable and best-loved voices in D&B, he leaves behind him an unmatched legacy. Read more
18-year-old freshman in medically-induced coma after dirt bike hit-and-run near university at Albany campus (People)
An 18-year-old college student is in critical condition after being hit by a dirt bike in Albany, N.Y.
On Saturday, April 27 at approximately 12:01 a.m. local time, officers were called to the 400 block of Hudson Avenue and found the victim “in the roadway with a serious head injury and a fractured leg,” Albany Police Department confirmed in a Facebook statement.
Per CBS affiliate WRGB, NBC affiliate WYNT, and the Times Union, the female was identified as University at Albany student Alexa Kropf from Long Island. Read more
Netanyahu says Israel will invade Rafah as Gaza ceasefire talks continue (AlJazeera)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has renewed his promise that Israel will launch a ground assault on Rafah in southern Gaza amid shaky ongoing truce talks to reach a ceasefire deal.
Netanyahu on Tuesday said Israel will destroy Hamas’ battalions there “with or without a deal” to achieve “total victory” in the nearly seven-month war.
Israel and Hamas are negotiating a potential ceasefire agreement and an exchange of hostages held by Palestinian groups in Gaza for prisoners held in Israeli jails. Read more
Hospital pickaxe attacker who tried to murder 2 colleagues in ‘lucky day’ rampage jailed (Mirror)
Matteo Bottarelli chased colleagues with a pickaxe and a scalpel around the grounds of Central Middlesex Hospital in London, saying “today is your lucky day” before stabbing one in the neck
A maintenance worker who attempted to murder two of his work colleagues in an “unprovoked attack” at a London hospital has been jailed for 30 years.
Matteo Bottarelli chased colleagues with a pickaxe and a scalpel around the grounds of Central Middlesex Hospital in north-west London, he told one “today is your lucky day” before stabbing one of them in the neck from behind. A second man was later found collapsed with “multiple head injuries” shortly after the incident on June 21 last year, which saw the hospital evacuated, the court heard. Read more
King Charles continues cancer treatment after returning to public duties for first time since diagnosis (Independent)
King Charles made a return to public duties with a visit to a hospital and specialist cancer centre in London today.
The King, alongside Queen Camilla, met doctors and patients during the visit in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight innovative research taking place at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre.
Both smiled broadly and waved to onlookers as they greeted staff including Baroness Neuberger, chairman of University London College Hospitals (UCLH), and David Probert, its chief executive. Read more
13-year-old-boy killed, 4 others injured in sword rampage at London underground station (UPI)
A 13-year-old boy was killed and four other people, including two police officers, were seriously injured in a sword attack at a subway station in London during Tuesday morning’s rush hour.
Police were called to a report of a vehicle being driven into a house in the northeast of the capital shortly before 7 a.m. local time by a man who then went on a stabbing rampage attacking members of the public and two police officers at a nearby tube station, Metropolitan Police said in a post on X.
“It is with great sadness we can confirm following a serious incident in Hainault this morning a 13-year-old boy has died. He was taken to hospital after being stabbed and sadly died shortly afterwards,” Met Police Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell said. Read more
Super Falcons star Nnadozie named Best Goalkeeper in France (Vanguard)
Super Falcons star Chiamaka Nnadozie has been crowned the best goalkeeper in the French D1 Arkema (women’s league).
Nnadozie marked a significant milestone as the first African, particularly Nigerian, to claim this prestigious individual accolade.
The feat solidifies Nnadozie’s standing as one of the top goalkeepers on the global stage.
The 23-year-old beat Olympic Lyon’s Christiane Endler and Katarzyna Kiedrzynek of Paris SG to the award. Read more
Glisten Int’ Academy student named VEX Robotics brand ambassador (Leadership)
Muhammad Abubakar Abdullahi, who is lead driver in the High School VEX has been named a VEX Robotics Brand Ambassador, marking a significant milestone in the realm of technology and innovation.
The prestigious title bestowed upon Muhammad Abubakar Abdullahi , whose name has become synonymous with excellence, highlights not only his individual accomplishments but also the collective success of Glisten International Academy and Nigeria.
Muhammad Abubakar Abdullahi ,currently part of the team representing Nigeria in Dallas, joins the ranks of global ambassadors, serving as a beacon of inspiration and a to the ingenuity and talent nurtured within Nigeria’s educational institutions. Read more
USA & Mexico withdraw 2027 Women’s World Cup bid (BBC)
The United States and Mexico have withdrawn their joint bid to host the 2027 Women’s World Cup and will instead focus on bidding for the tournament in 2031.
It comes less than three weeks before the hosts were to be chosen, at a Fifa congress in Bangkok on 17 May.
The remaining bids are from Brazil and a joint one from Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands. Read more
Over 200 athletes to compete in Strata Base National Open Senior Karate Championship (Sun)
Over 200 athletes, coaches, and karate administrators will gather in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, for the third edition of the “Strata Base National Open Senior Karate Championship.”
The championship will be held at the Alfred Diete Spiff Sports Complex in Port Harcourt from May 1st to 4th, 2024. Athletes from across the country will compete for medals in various categories.
According to a statement by Chukwudi Dimkpa, Chief Executive Officer of Strata Base Group, the main sponsor of the tournament, “Karate fans and enthusiasts from around Nigeria will have the opportunity to relax and witness spectacular bouts of Kumite and Kata among participating athletes and teams drawn from states across the country.” Read more
Everton launch bid for Wilfred Ndidi (CompleteSports)
Everton have launched a move to sign Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi at the end of the season.
Ndidi will be free to join another club this summer with his contract set to expire in June.
A number of clubs within and outside England have reportedly expressed interest in signing the Nigeria international. Read more
LeBron James undecided on Lakers future, return for 22nd NBA season (UPI)
LeBron James declined to commit to a 22nd season after the Los Angeles Lakers’ season-ending loss to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs, telling reporters he will consider the decision this off-season.
He also declined to answer a question about if he thought the game — a 108-106 setback Monday in Denver — was his last in a Lakers uniform.
“I’m not going to answer that,” James said at a news conference inside Ball Arena. Read more