Long queues resurface at petrol stations in parts of Abuja

By Edith Ike-Eboh

Long queues have resurfaced in most filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that most filling stations along the Kubwa Expressway were filled with motorists trying to buy Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

Some of the petrol stations that recorded the queues are Shema Filling Station, AA Ranonoil, Conoil, Mobil, Dan oil PLC and the Nigerian National petroleum Corporation (NNPC) filling stations, all located along the Kubwa expressway.

Some of the motorists who spoke to NAN said they just noticed the long queues and decided to top up.

Also speaking, a taxi driver who identified himself only as Moses, said he had to buy fuel to be able to do his businesses, in case there is scarcity.

I did not have in mind to buy petrol, but seeing queues in two filling stations and coming down, the same thing is happening. I have to do something.

I just have to buy now with the small money that I have, to get ready for Tuesdays work. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Petrol Queue

By Edith Ike-Eboh

The Nigerian National Petroleum corporation (NNPC) has cautioned motorists not to engage in panic buying of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol, assuring of normalcy in the supply of petroleum products.

Dr Kennie Obateru, the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday added that the long queues currently being experienced were due to the curfew imposed in some states over the EndSARS protests.

Obateru said that the curfew affected the free movement of vehicles for the supply of products, but assured of normalcy in a couple of days.

The disruptions and curtailment of free flow of vehicular movement occasioned by the EndSARS protests, the attendant curfews, restrictions and vandalism affect the supply situation.

Normalcy is expected to return to the petroleum products supply chain in the next couple of days.

There is no need for panic buying, be rest assured that supply will soon return to the entire country, he said.

Source: NAN News

#EndSARS protests: Police arrest 25 suspected looters in Kaduna

By Mohammed Tijjani

The Kaduna State Police Command has arrested no fewer than 25 suspects for allegedly looting private and public property, as hoodlums hijacked the #EndSARS protests.

The Commands Public Relations Officer, ASP Mohammed Jalige, said this at a press conference in Kaduna on Monday.

He said that following the current trend of #EndSARS protests in the country and the subsequent hijacking of the protests by hoodlums, the state witnessed the looting and destruction of property.

He said consequently the state government imposed a 24-hour curfew to curb criminal activities of the miscreants.

Jalige said that with the responsibility of enforcing law and order placed on the police and other sister security agencies, the command went into action.

He said that in view of this, the command apprehended 25 suspectsfor alleged criminal conspiracy, vandalism and looting of public and private property.

Jalige listed some of the exhibitsrecovered from the suspects to include, three Toyota buses, one Mercedes Benz, one Golf car and one Toyota Camry.

He said that others include six Boxer motorcycles of which three were unregistered, six bed foams, one bundle of zinc, eight tricycles, 29 bags of grains and 32 pieces of plant fibre mosquito coils.

He noted that some medical items and drugs, including electrical gadgets, among others were recovered.

According to him, the police, alongside other security agencies, are still working to ensure that more offenders are arrested.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 25 suspects were immediately charged to court for prosecution

Source: NAN News

Buki Ponle, MD NAN chages youths to distance themselves from fake news

By Sylvester Thompson

Mr Buki Ponle, Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), has charged youths in the country to distance themselves from fake news and use their brains positively to contribute to nation building.

Ponle gave the charge on Monday when he received a delegation of the Northern Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), which paid him a courtesy visit in his office in Abuja.

According to him, fake news will not project the country in a positive light and is responsible for the destruction of many countries around the world.

He advised the visitors to make good use of information, communication and technology (ICT) to disseminate accurate information about the country.

Ponle, who emphasised the power of information technology, said it could also be used positively for self improvement, in terms of knowledge acquisition and a better projection of the country.

Lets eliminate fake news, use your brains to develop the country, he said.

He said that the Federal Government had recently demonstrated that the youth needed to be carried along by assenting to the five-point demand presented by the ENDSARS protesters.

The NAN MD assured that government also recognised that the youth are the leaders of tomorrow and today, because they form part of the development process.

As long as that is recognised, we will always task you to ensure that your future as leaders of the future is not destroyed now.

Do whatever you can to appease the youth who are not on the same page with you to do the needful, Ponle said.

Ponle told the delegation that Nigeria belongs to all and that the youth, especially, had the responsibility as future leaders to do the right thing, at the right time and place.

He also urged the NYCN to endeavour to represent what the country stands for, which is love and unity.

The managing director stated that to do this they needed to strive to remain as a single entity of one collective youth organisation because there is strength in unity.

Continue the process of forming yourselves into one single entity because united we stand, divided we fall.

Dont let any extraneous factors divide you because in unity you can achieve a lot, he noted.

He promised to partner the youth organisation in anything it intended to do and achieve for the betterment of its members and the society at large.

He said NAN was ready to promote whatever the organisation represents, as long as it would promote the country and enhance growth and development.

Earlier, Mr Ibrahim Omoba, Vice President of the NYCN and leader of the delegation, said the delegation came to identify itself as well as seek ways on how to partner the news organisation.

Omoba expressed dissatisfaction with the proliferation of fake news all over social media platforms across the country without consulting to find out the facts.

He said the NYCN is a unit of the National Youth Council (NYC), with the objective of reaching out to other youth groups in Nigeria in a spirit of synergy.

The high point of the visit was the presentation of Congratulation Credence to the MD of NAN, as well as his decoration with a medal and recognition as patron of the NYCN.

Source: NAN News

Rev Yakubu Pam

Jessica Onyegbula

Rev Yakubu Pam, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), has advised Nigerian Youths to embrace peace and dialogue, saying its time to cease fire.

Pam, who made the call at a press conference in Abuja on Monday, said that all hands must be on deck to find a lasting solution to the problems facing the nation.

He said that the current situation in the country has made it compelling for people to work collectively towards building a better Nigeria, adding the youths have what it takes to be part of the journey to a greater Nigeria.

The NCPC boss pleaded with the Nigerian youths to exercise patience and trust President Muhammadu Buhari to fulfill his promise to address their five point demands.

Pam said that the wanton destruction of national assets and monuments by those who circumvented the peaceful protest left much to be desired.

According to him, the money which would have been used for infrastructural development would now be used to fix things destroyed by irate youths.

As an apostle of peace, which I have spent a large chunk of my life pursuing and building bridges, I make bold to say that without peace there cannot be any meaningful development.

I wish to express my heart felt commiseration on the death of innocent Nigerian youths who died in the struggle for better tomorrow.

I therefore wish to call on the organised Nigerian youths to embrace peace and dialogue as the only panacea for enduring resolution to their demands. The time to cease fire is now, he said.

We are not against lawful protest which is allowed in any modern democratic setting such as ours, Pam said.

Source: NAN News

Gunmen

Ibrahim Abdulazeez

The Chairman of Iganna Local Council Development Area of Oyo State, Mr Jacob Adeleke, has been kidnapped by gunmen.

The Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Mr Gbenga Fadeyi, made the disclosure in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Iseyin, on Monday.

He said the incident occurred late on Sunday.

I can confirm to you that the council boss was kidnapped along with his driver on Iseyin-Ado-Awaye road on his way to Ibadan.

Since then, we have deployed our men to comb the area to rescue him and arrest the perpetrators.

The command will ensure that the state is safe for all and sundry, Fadeyi assured. (NAN)

Source: NAN News

Ronaldinho tests positive for COVID-19

Former Brazil striker Ronaldinho Gaucho said on Sunday he has tested positive for COVID-19 and was self-isolating.

The ex-FC Barcelona and Paris St-Germain (PSG) player was in Belo Horizonte, where he played for local side Atletico Mineiro, when he got his diagnosis.

I arrived in BH (Belo Horizonte) yesterday (Saturday) and I took the COVID test, I tested positive, I am good, asymptomatic so far, the two-times FIFA World Player of the year said in Sunday.

The former AC Milan, Flamengo and Gremio player said he would remain in a hotel until his condition improved.

The charismatic forward spent a month in a Paraguayan jail with his brother and business manager earlier this year, accused of entering country with a fake passport.

Source: NAN News

Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara with the heads of security agencies at a meeting on Sunday in Ilorin

By AbdulFatai Beki/Olayinka Owolewa

The Kwara government has announced the relaxation of the 24 hours curfew imposed on residents of llorin following protests in some parts of the metropolis.

Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRasaq in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Rafiu Ajakaye, relaxed the curfew from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. until further notice.

The governor said that the relaxation became imperative in view of the peace and harmony being recorded in the state.

Ajakaye said the decision was taken after a state security council meeting with heads of the security agencies in the state on Sunday.

A review of the situation in the Ilorin metropolis suggested a relative calm.

The meeting observed that the objective of the curfew has largely been achieved as the misguided elements who looted and vandalised public and private property have been pushed back and normalcy restored.

Consequently, the security council resolved to relax the curfew from 24 hours to between 6p.m. and 8 a.m. daily until further notice.

This means members of the public can move around between 8 a.m. and 6p.m. daily within the metropolis.

Even so, the government will continue to review the situation and take decisions that are in the best interest of the state, he said.

He said that security operatives were on ground to ensure law and order prevail in all parts of the metropolis.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Gov. AbdulRasaq had in a broadcast on Friday imposed 24 hours curfew on llorin after hoodlums looted and vandalised some private and public places in the metropolis.

Source: NAN News

Formula One: Hamilton overtakes Schumacher with record 92nd win

Six-times world champion Lewis Hamilton became the most successful Formula One driver of all time in terms of race wins on Sunday.

He did so with a dominant 92nd career victory at the Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimao.

The Mercedes driver, who took the chequered flag a huge 25.592 seconds ahead of second-placed team mate Valtteri Bottas, had equalled Ferrari great Michael Schumachers record 91 wins.

He achieved the feat at the previous race at the Nuerburgring.

Victory, along with a bonus point for fastest lap, stretched the Britons championship lead over Bottas to 77 points with five races remaining.

You are re-writing the history books, Mercedes told Hamilton over the team radio, with team boss Toto Wolff adding: Lewis, 92. 92.

I owe it all to these guys here and back at the factory, said Hamilton.

Its just been such a privilege working with them, added the Briton, who was joined on the podium by race engineer Peter Bono Bonnington.

Today was tough but it was all about temperatures.

Dutch youngster Max Verstappen finished third for Red Bull at the Algarve circuit near Portimao that was hosting the countrys first grand prix in 24 years.

Hamilton lapped all but the three drivers behind him.

But it had not looked so simple at the start when he dropped to third from pole position on a lively opening lap with occasional rain complicating matters.

Bottas, who had gone ahead, was then passed on lap two by McLarens Spaniard Carlos Sainz.

The Spaniard had started seventh on the soft tyres, with the Mercedes pair struggling to get heat into the medium rubber.

Verstappen had meanwhile dropped to fifth after tangling with Racing Points Mexican Sergio Perez, who pitted and dropped to last but recovered to finish seventh.

Bottas retook the lead on lap six as the tyres fired up, with Hamilton moving up to second.

He stayed ahead until his team mate overtook him on lap 20 to lead for the first time since the opening lap.

Hamilton, whose father was at the circuit to see his triumph, reported cramp with seven laps to go but then proceeded to set a series of fastest laps.

I could never have dreamed of being where I am today, he said after his eighth win of the season and 71st since he joined Mercedes.

I didnt have a magic ball when I chose to come to this team and partner with great people, but here I am and what I can tell you is Im trying to make the most of it every single day.

Its going to take some time to sink in. I was still pushing flat out coming across the line.

Bottas said he just had no pace. I was pushing hard but couldnt go faster, complained the Finn.

Ferraris Charles Leclerc finished fourth with AlphaTauris Pierre Gasly fifth.

Sainz was sixth with Renaults Esteban Ocon and Daniel Ricciardo eighth and ninth.

Four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel took the final point for Ferrari.

Lance Stroll, who missed the last race and then tested positive for COVID-19, was the only retirement of the afternoon with the team reporting floor damage.

The Canadian had already collected multiple penalties by then.

Source: NAN News

Troops hit bandits camps, eliminate scores in Kaduna

By Sumaila Ogbaje

Troops of Operation Thunder Strike have eliminated scores of bandits in land and air offensives on their camps at Yadi and Kufai Shantu in Giwa Local Government Area of Kaduna State.

The Coordinator, Defence Media Operations, Maj.-Gen. John Enenche, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday in Abuja.

Enenche said the operation was executed on Saturday following credible intelligence and series of aerial surveillance missions that led to the identification of the hideouts.

He said the hideouts were confirmed to belong to a notorious leader of the bandits.

According to him, the first wave of the air components strikes involved seven Nigerian Air Force (NAF) aircraft that undertook 12 missions in a total of 23 sorties.

He said the operation commenced at dawn and targeted a cluster of huts housing notorious armed bandits leader, named Buhari Halilu.

Enenche explained that the attack aircraft destroyed some of the target structures and neutralised several bandits.

He added that the second wave of attacks targeted bandits hideout at Kufai Shantu, aimed at incapacitating them to reduce resistance to the ground troops advance toward Yadi.

According to him, following the air fixing efforts at Kufai Shantu, the land forces, supported by an attack helicopter, successfully assaulted Halilus hideout at Yadi, clearing two of three objectives.

The ground troops subsequently fought through fierce resistance from bandits hiding under the foliage at the third objective and eventually overpowered the criminals, while eliminating several of them.

The Air Component provided effective support to the ground troops during all phases of the operation.

The Military High Command commends the Land and Air Components for their professionalism and urges them to remain resolute in the conduct of operations in order to eradicate all armed bandits.

Furthermore, the Armed Forces of Nigeria sincerely appreciates the continued support and cooperation of all well-meaning Nigerians, as it keeps up the tempo of operations to defeat all enemies of the nation, he said.

Source: NAN News