The doubt over the quantity of daily petrol consumption has prompted a decision to effect the closure of filling stations that are 10 kilometres on the border to monitor actual consumption.

The Sub-Committee of the National Economic Council (NEC) on Remittance to Federation Account on Wednesday directed that the filling stations be closed down immediately.

The committee arrived at the decision after its meeting with Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) officials presided by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Abuja.

The sub-committee queried the claim by Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that it was lifting 60 million litres of petrol per day at present from a previous claim of 30 million barrels per day.

We have so many international partners that are saying that even if we are feeding Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana and Niger, we cannot take more than 35 million litres, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara and Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, said.

He told State House Correspondents that the closure of the stations was to monitor the volume of petrol being distributed across the country.

According to Yari, the stations will be recertified according to their needs before they recommence operation.

So, we are taking decision now that any filling station that is 10 kilometres on the border side should be closed down by DPR.

And, we are going to direct the Minister of Finance in collaboration with DPR and NNPC to put a tracking device to every truck to know where that truck is heading.

The tracking will also show where the trucks are discharging the fuel because we are suspicious of the number, the governor stated.

He said that the committee had asked the NNPC to furnish it with how much it remitted to the Federation Account as proceeds from petroleum from 2015 to date and how much was outstanding.

On the cost of recovery which NNPC used to replace subsidy, the governor said that NEC was surprised that subsidy re-entered the trade after efforts of President Muhammadu Buhari to stop the practice. (NAN)

Source: NAN

An irate passenger who reportedly missed his scheduled flight was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Thursday after attempting to break into a Jetstar Airways plane.

The incident was captured on video by a traveller inside the terminal.

The video footage showed the man bashing and pulling frantically on the planes door, trying to get inside.

According to local media, the man was hours late for his original flight and became aggressive towards Jetstar staff.

They alleged the infuriated man then pushed a crew member and ran through the terminal gate onto the tarmac where
he was able to access the stairs leading to the plane.

We were sitting waiting to get on the flight and people went oh my god, what is going on? a witness said.

Someone was running on the tarmac!

This man was trying to get up the stairs, he was physically fighting with the staff, punching and scratching them.
`
The man was eventually restrained by baggage handlers and arrested by the police.

It was believed at least two Jetstar employees suffered injuries.

A spokesperson for the airline said baggage handlers went above and beyond.

We praise our crew for safely handling this incident and restraining the passenger until police arrived.

The man has been banned from any future Jetstar or Qantas flights and is set to face charges. (Xinhua/NAN)

Source: NAN

The US governments ethics watchdog on Wednesday referred President Donald Trumps apparent hush-money payment to a porn star to the Justice Department for possible investigation.

The 130,000-dollar 2016 payment to Stephanie Clifford, better known as adult performer Stormy Daniels, was made by Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who seems to have only been reimbursed last year, according to the presidents 2017 financial disclosure form released Wednesday.

A footnote in the 92-page document claims that the expense was not required to be reported on Trumps 2016 disclosure form, but in the interest of transparency says that Cohen was reimbursed without interest last year for an amount in the range of 100,000-250,000 dollars.

Contradicting the footnote, the US Office of Government Ethics notified the Justice Department that the payment meets the disclosure requirements for a reportable liability under the Ethics in Government Act.

The letter by the office to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein said that Trumps financial disclosure reports were being provided because you may find the disclosure relevant to any inquiry you may be pursuing regarding the presidents prior report, which was filed in June 2017.

The letter constitutes a referral by the ethics office of a possible false financial filing.

Daniels had previously described a 2006 liaison with Trump before signing a non-disclosure agreement shortly before the November 2016 presidential election.

Trump, who denies any sexual relationship with Daniels, tweeted this month that the agreement was made to stop the false and extortionist accusations.

Trump had claimed in early 2018 that he had no knowledge of Cohens payment to Daniels.

Rosenstein a year ago appointed Robert Mueller as special counsel to lead the federal probe into Russian election meddling, Moscows contacts with Trumps campaign and Trumps possible obstruction of the investigation.

Cohen was the target of raids last month in an investigation by the US Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York, after a referral from Mueller.

Citing the federal criminal investigation, Cohen this week told a New York court that he would refuse to testify, citing his right against self-incrimination under the US Constitutions Fifth Amendment in a lawsuit filed by Daniels seeking to have the non-disclosure agreement cancelled.

Daniels attorney argues that the contract was invalid because Trump never signed it, and alleges that Cohen falsely accused her of lying.

Trump was a television star and newly married to his third wife, first lady Melania Trump, at the time of the alleged Daniels encounter.(dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

The Israeli army said its jets targeted Hamas positions in the northern Gaza Strip early Thursday in response to machine gun fire aimed at an Israeli border town.

One Palestinian was moderately injured from the strikes, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

The strikes were conducted in response to the heavy machine gun fire that targeted the city of Sderot and the numerous shooting attacks that targeted IDF soldiers throughout the day,the Israeli army said in a statement.

The strikes come days after 60 Palestinians were killed by Israeli forces along the Gaza border during protests there.

The protests fuelled by a US embassy move to Jerusalem and over a decade of blockade on the coastal enclave made Monday the bloodiest day in Gaza since a 2014 war between Israel and Hamas, which still controls the territory.

Israel says that Hamas, the Islamist group which most of the West considers a terrorist organization, is using the protests as a mask to breach the Israeli border fence and attempt attacks on Israeli civilians. (dpa/NAN)

Source: NAN

Gov. Aminu Masari of Katsina State has urged Muslims to utilise the holy month of Ramadan to pray for peace, unity and prosperity in the country and the world in general.

The governor made the call in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Abdu Labaran, on Thursday in Katsina.

Muslims the world over commenced fasting in the holy month of Ramadan on Thursday.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and is observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting to commemorate the first revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad.

Fasting is the third pillar of Islam in which Muslims observe 29 or 30 days of abstinence from eating, drinking and sexual intercourse from sunrise to sunset with the hope of earning Allahs blessings.

Labaran quoted Gov. Masari as saying I am calling on Muslims in the country to use the Ramadan period to pray for the nation and its leadership.

As a period of devotion, there is no better time to dedicate to Nigeria than now, in view of the insecurity challenges threatening its corporate existence.

As a period of intense devotion and introspection, it is incumbent on us to use religion for the advancement, not the dismemberment of our nation.

This, we can do by imbibing the lessons which the month of Ramadan seeks to teach us, especially showing love to one another regardless of religious inclination, assisting the less privileged and placing our collective interest over and above individual considerations.

We must remember that a nation is only as good as its leadership, which means we cannot wish evil for our leaders and expect prosperity for the nation.

Masari called on Nigerians to continue to support governments effort at improving the living conditions of people and moving the country forward. (NAN)

Source: NAN

The Frenchman had Arsenal in the running to land the Portuguese star as he prepared to leave Sporting, but saw Manchester United beat him to a deal.

Arsene Wenger considers missing out on Cristiano Ronaldo to be his biggest transfer regret at Arsenal as the Portuguese could have changed history in north London.

Having spent 22 years at the Gunners helm, the Frenchman has suffered plenty of recruitment near misses in his time.

Some iconic figures have slipped through his grasp, with various factors conspiring against Arsenal as they endeavoured to land both promising and proven stars.

Source: Goal.com

Source: NAN

The President of the Senate Dr Bukola Saraki is set to meet President Muhammadu Buhari to relay to him an alleged plot by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to implicate him (Saraki).

The President of the Senate is to lead the leadership of the upper legislative chamber to meet with President Buhari over the alleged plot which Saraki disclosed on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday.

Saraki had raised the alarm on the floor of the Senate over a plot by the IGP to implicate him using ‘coerced’ cultists.

“My Distinguished colleagues, there is an issue which I need to bring to your attention very urgently. Last night, my State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatai Ahmed revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who had been in police cells for several weeks for cultism and whose investigation had been concluded with prosecution about to commence under the State law based on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) and the Ministry of Justice were ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

“ According to the information available to the Governor, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Ibrahim directed the Commissioner of Police in Kwara State to immediately transfer the men to the Force Headquarters.

“The plan, as the Governor was made to understand is that, under duress, the suspects would be made to alter the statements they already made in Ilorin. They will then be made to implicate the Kwara State Government, and in particular, myself, in their new statement.

“This plot is part of the strategy by the IGP Idris to settle scores over the declaration by this honourable Chamber that he is not qualified and competent to hold any public office, within and outside the country and that he is an enemy of Nigerian democracy based on his usual disrespectful conduct towards lawful authorities.

“”In my own view, this plot is an act of desperation, blackmail, intimidation, abuse of office and crude tactics aimed at turning our country into a Police State where top officials cannot be made to obey the law, follow due process and subject themselves to constituted authorities.

“I want to bring this dangerous development to the attention of all of you my colleagues, the entire country and the international community so that you can be aware of the level of impunity in our country and the danger it constitute to our democracy,” the President of the Senate said.

Saraki explained that he was bringing the issue to the attention of his colleagues to let them know the gravity of the situation.

“I know the gravity of the issue that is why I am bringing it to your attention and to continue to let our colleagues and the world know presently the danger we are going with and the levels of the rascality that is going on with some of these actions.

“I have brought it to your attention and we must continue to play our own role in doing what we believe in the course of our duty.

“It is very unfortunate but that it the information I have as of now,” the President of the Senate said.

The Senate resolved that the Senate President should lead a delegation to relay the concerns raised on the floor by Saraki. The delegation would consist of the Senate President, the Senate Leader, Senator Ahmad Lawan; the Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye; and the Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio.

Other members of the delegation would included Senator Danjuma Goje, Senator Sam Anyanwu, Senator Aliyu Wammako, Senator Fatima Raji Rasaki, and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Source: NAN

A Kogi State High Court in Lokoja has granted bail to Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, who is standing trial on gun-running allegation.

Justice Nasir Ajana gave the ruling based on an application by the defence counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome.

Ajana admitted Melaye to bail to the sum of N10 million, with one surety in the like sum.

Ozekhome argued that the continued incarceration of Senator Melaye would jeopardise his health condition, which he said was deteriorating.

Melaye, however, was not in court as he is still receiving treatment in hospital.

Details coming.

Source: NAN

Gov. Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi, says on Wednesday the state government has secured a 60 million dollar loan from the World Bank for the construction of 500 rural roads across the state.

Bagudu made the disclosure in Birnin Kebbi when he received the Emir of Yauri, Dr Muhammdu Zayyanu, who paid him a courtesy visit.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the roads construction and rehabilitation would cover all the 21 local government areas of the state.

Bagudu said that state government had already paid its counterpart fund for the project which was designed to transform rural areas and ease transportation difficulties.

He also added that government would support the construction of the dilapidated Jega-Koko-Yauri federal road.

The government has already released N374 million for the completion of Yauri Power Sub- Station as well as the repairs of Yauri-Birnin Yauri-Zuru power lines to actualise uninterrupted electricity supply.

He also ordered the immediate release release of fund approved for the evacuation of waterways in Yauri Emirate topave way for smooth marine transportation and reduce boat mishaps.

On the problem of signals for transmission the state television programmes, the governor assured the emir that the problem would soon be over.

My administration has released N700 million for the contract to digitise the television station including the sub stations in Yauri, Zuru and Koko.

Earlier, the emir had appealed to the governor to tackle the problems of potable water supply, good roads and electricity in his domain.

I am here to show solidarity and forward the incessant complaints I receive from my subjects on the problem of potable water supply, electricity and roads, he said. (NAN)

Source: NAN

A Special Offences Court in Ikeja has fixed June 1 for the adoption of final written addresses in the trial of Clement Illoh, ex-Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity for alleged N14 million fraud.

Illoh is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly stealing N14 million from the defunct Federal Governments Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

At the resumption of proceedings on Wednesday, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo, granted the prayers of the EFCC Counsel, Mr Nnaemeka Omeha, seeking an adjournment to enable the prosecution regularise its application.

The judge, thereafter, acceded to his request for an extension of time and consequently adjourned the case.

The defendant was arraigned on Oct. 16, 2017 by the anti-graft agency on a three-count charge bordering on stealing by conversion of property to the tune of N14 million.

It was allegedly sourced from the from the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA).

He had pleaded not guilty to the charges with four prosecution witnesses testifying during the trial.

Illoh was responsible for supervising numerous programmes including SURE-P and allegedly awarded fictitious contracts to himself via his company and friends.

The offences contravened Sections 279 (1), (b) and 285 (6) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Source: NAN