2018 ! Suffering and smiling !! Oil marketers insist: We can no longer sell at N145 per litre

Oil marketers say it is no longer profitable to sell premium motor spirit (PMS) better known as petrol at the rate of N145 per litre.

They made this known on Tuesday during a meeting with top government officials at the presidential villa in Abuja.

Abba Kyari, chief of staff to the president, presided over the meeting which held at the state house conference centre.

Maikanti Baru, group managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachikwu, minister of state for petroleum resources, and Lawal Daura, director-general of the Department of State Services (DSS), were in attendance.

Addressing journalists at the end of the meeting, Dapo Abiodun, chairman of Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN), spoke on the cause of petrol scarcity.

“Today’s meeting was called at the instance of the chief of staff to the president and it was to find out exactly what happened, where we had the problems we had in December with the supply of petrol and how Nigerians were made to go through the pains and suffering,” he said.

“He wanted to know the truth and to ensure that going forward this problem will be solved once and for all. And that is why you saw that we sat in here from 2pm and the meeting just finished after three and half hours.

“A lot of issues were raised and a committee was constituted that will meeting tomorrow under the chairmanship of the minister of petroleum to further go into the nitty-gritty and to ensure that these problems do not reoccur again.

“From our point of view as marketers, we made our submission known to government and we emphasised the fact that this was not a marketer-related problem. There was no hoarding on the part of any marketer. Marketers are your brothers, they are Nigerian citizens, they are businessmen, no marketer makes money from hoarding petroleum products, our business is to take petrol and sell.

“We explained that the problem that you saw is not willful on the part of anyone either NNPC or marketers.

“The situation, from our point of view, is that from January to December, the price of crude remained relatively stable. Following the Hurricane Katrina in the month of September, October, crude prices went up and marketers lost the ability to import any sell at N145 per liter.

“Since the price of crude is directly proportional to the refined product, we could not import petrol and sell at N145 anymore. And this business is a partnership between marketers and NNPC. Marketers being in a certain volume and NNPC also brings in a certain volume.”

He also advised government on the steps to take to avoid a repeat of the situation.

“In the past marketers bring in about 60% while NNPC brings about 35 to 40 percent. But by the month of October marketers completely stopped importing because there was no more subsidy,” he said.

“So, the burden of importing 100% now fell on NNPC. S,o you can imagine a situation where NNPC was importing in part and marketers were importing in part and then suddenly NNPC begins to import 100%. Couple with the fact that consumption of petrol is highest in the country in the months we call the ember months, from October to December.

“All these are issues we believe amounted to what we saw in December but thankfully NNPC rose to the occasion, they stepped up import, stepped up supplies that situation has since normalized.

“Today’s meeting is to ensure that this does not happen again and this we are going to continue tomorrow.” - Cable Nigeria

Black people !!! Total blackout across Nigeria — two days after Buhari celebrated power landmark

There was blackout across the country on Tuesday as a result of the collapse of the national grid.

The situation was caused by a fire incident on one of the pipeline systems in the country, the ministry of power said in a statement.

It identified the pipeline system as Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo state.

The ministry, which also includes works and housing sectors, said it was working to restore power distribution nationwide.

The statement released on Tuesday night read: “Regrettably, after a sustained period of increasing production and distribution of power since September 2017 to date, the Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC) has reported a fire incident on its Escravos Lagos Pipeline System near Okada, Edo State on Tuesday, 2nd January, 2018.

“The incident requires a shutdown of the pipeline supplying gas to Egbin 1,320MW; Olorunsogo NIPP 676MW, Olorunsogo 338MW, Omotosho NIPP 450MW, Omotosho 338 MW and Paras 60MW power stations.

“The sudden loss of generation due to interruption in gas supply from these stations caused the national transmission grid to trip off around 20:20 on 2nd January 2018. The national transmission grid is owned and operated by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

“Most of Nigeria’s power generation is from thermal power stations that require gas for fuel. The gas is produced by oil and gas companies overseen by the ministry of petroleum resources.

“The gas is delivered to the power stations through pipelines owned and operated by Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC), a subsidiary of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

“TCN and the generation companies are working to restore operation of the national grid.

“Once the national grid is restored output from the hydroelectric power stations and all other unaffected gas fired thermal power stations will be increased to the extent possible to minimize the impact of loss of generation from the affected power stations while NNPC takes necessary steps to restore gas supply.”

In his New Year speech, President Muhammadu Buhari had celebrated landmarks in the power sector under his watch.

He said: “Generation has now reached 7,000MW. On December 8, 2017 the country achieved 5,155MW of power delivered to consumers, the highest level ever recorded.

“Several moribund projects have been revived.  Repairs of Afam Power Station added 110MW in 2017 and another 240MW will be added this year through a private investment partnership.

“Katsina Power Project is now being tested and producing 10MW of power from wind for the first time in Nigeria.  It should be fully operational this year.

“The Zungeru 700MW Hydroelectric Power Project, stalled by court cases is due for completion in 2019.  The transmission and other requirements to operate the 30MW Gurara Phase 1 Hydroelectric Plant, the 40MW Kashimbilla Hydroelectric Plant and the 215 MW Kaduna Gas/LPG/Diesel Power Plant will also be completed this year.

“A landmark project, Mambilla Hydroelectric Power Project is at last taking off.  This project has been on the drawing Board for 40 years, but now the engineering, procurement and construction contract for the 3,050MW project has been agreed with a Chinese joint venture Company with a financing commitment from the government of China.  Completion is targeted for 2023.” - Cable Nigeria

Why I killed over ten of my victims, drank their blood – Kidnap kingpin, Umar confesses

A 25-year-old Fulani kidnap kingpin, identified as Ibrahim Umar, has confessed how he killed his victims including soldiers and drank their blood.

Umar was paraded among 15 others by the Nigerian Police in Abuja on Tuesday.

He said he had not only killed over ten of his kidnapped victims in recent times but also drank their blood.

He equally disclosed that he hunts and kills soldiers to get their arms and uniforms for operations whenever he was in need of the items.

What stands Umar’s kidnap gang out among many others across the country is that it kills the victims even after collecting ransom from their families.

Umar, a vicious and notorious kidnap-for-ransom/armed robbery kingpin, said he has been in the business for over two years now.

He was arrested alongside his three gang members in the forest and towns along Abuja-Kaduna, and Abuja-Suleja-Minna Highway by men of the F- SARS Special Tactical Squad attached to Operation Absolute Sanity.

He told journalists at Sabon Wuse Divisional Office of the Nigeria Police Force, venue of the parade, that he had made fortunes worth several millions of naira from the atrocities he carried out along the highway for the past two years.

The arms and ammunition recovered from the the gang included five AK47 riffles, 1596 7.62 X 39mm AK47 ammunition, two sword & cutlasses, four pairs of suspected fake military uniform and mobile phones.

Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Jimoh Moshood, who paraded the suspects before newsmen, gave their names as Mohammadu Auta a.k.a Babawuro, 27 years old, Musa Usman, 25 years old and Abdullahi Abubakar, who is 28 years old.

Moshood, said that Umar’s gang “is the most vicious and notorious syndicate of Kidnap-for-ransom gang arrested by the police in the recent time.”

According to the Force PRO, the police team busted the gang and arrested Umar and three other suspects including their gang leader who is a trained Armourer and the hit-man of the gang.

He said, “The gang leader Ibrahim Umar a.k.a Oro, confessed to have killed personally more than ten people including those that he killed and still collected ransom money from their families.

“He also confessed to suck the blood of most of the victims after killing them. He was identified by some of the victims rescued from their captivity by the Police in the forest during the gun battle.

“Twelve other suspects were also arrested in the act of laying ambush to kidnap people returning from Christmas and New Year holidays on Kaduna – Abuja road and Minna-Suleja-Abuja road

”The gang is the most vicious and notorious syndicate of Kidnap for ransom gang arrested by the police in the recent time.

“The gang leader, Ibrahim Umar a.k.a Oro, confessed to have killed personally more than 10 people including those that he killed and still collected ransom money from their families.

“He also confessed to suck the blood of most of the victims after killing them. He was identified by some of the victims rescued from their captivity by the Police in the forest during the gun battle.

“All the suspects arrested confessed to their various criminal roles they played in the commission of the crimes. The suspects will be arraigned in court for prosecution on completion of investigation.”

He said investigation was being intensified to arrest other members of the gang still at large.

Moshood added, “While the ongoing operation is being sustained and extended to other flash points across the country, the Inspector General of Police deeply appreciates the cooperation of communities, towns and villages on Kaduna – Abuja, Abuja – Suleja – Minna highways and all other Nigerians for these success stories.

“He, therefore, encourages them to continue to support Police personnel deployed in their localities.” - Daily Post

28-year-old Man kills boss, dumps body in pit toilet

One driver identified as Clement Ekuase, has been arrested by the Edo State Police Command for allegedly killing his 89 year old boss, Pa Nosakhare Omo Osagie, and dumping his body in a pit toilet.

It was gathered that Ekuase was employed as a driver to the deceased, before he allegedly killed him with a pestle, dispossessed him of the vehicle, and sold it to a herbalist in Ovbiogie village.

According to Punch, The suspect had informed the victim’s children, based abroad, that their father has been abducted and the kidnappers demanded a ransom of N2m.

The children of the deceased were said to have paid the ransom, which the suspect collected, with a promise that their father would be released soon.

The decomposing body of the deceased was, however, discovered inside a pit toilet by some relatives who visited his residence.

It was learnt that the suspect was later arrested by policemen from the Ekiadolor division while trying to collect a balance of N500,000 from the buyer of the car before Christmas.

Confirming the incident, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, said the suspect dumped the remains of his victim in a pit toilet.

CP Kokumo said the incident was being treated as a case of murder, adding that two other suspects were arrested in connection with the killing.

The Police boss said the corpse of the victim has been recovered while the three suspects were undergoing final interrogation, before the case is charged to court.

Lagos state seals properties belonging to suspected Badoo boss, Alaka

The Lagos State Government has sealed three properties belonging to a suspected Badoo cult kingpin, Alhaji Alaka Abayomi Kamal.

The properties include a Petrol Filling Station, a hotel and event centre located along Ijebu-Ode-Itoikin Road in Sabo area of Ikorodu.

The properties were sealed for violating the State’s Urban and Regional Planning Law of 2010.

The Police, had on December 22, 2017, declared Alaka wanted in connection with series of well-orchestrated killings and nefarious activities of the Badoo cult group in Ikorodu and Epe area of the State.

Alaka is believed to be the ring leader of the Badoo menace.

The State Government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, said the order sealing off the structures was in pursuant to Section 60 of the said Law.

Ayorinde said, “The Lagos State Government is joining the Nigerian Police in asking the said Alaka to come out of hiding and submit himself to the law in his own interest.

“The State Government has also enjoined the Police to offer the public a reward for any useful information on the owner of the Alaka Filling Station, Hotel and Event Centre in Ikorodu.

“The government is once again asking its citizens to go about their businesses without fear. We will leave no stone unturned in keeping the State safe in 2018.” - Daily Post

Freed Canadian hostage arrested for assault

A Canadian man who was held hostage for five years by a Taliban-linked insurgent group has been arrested.

Joshua Boyle, 34, is facing a total of 15 charges including assault and unlawful confinement, according to Canadian media.

Pakistani soldiers rescued Mr. Boyle, his United States wife, Caitlan Coleman, and their children in October.

The couple were kidnapped in Afghanistan in 2012 and had three children while in captivity, the BBC reports.

Canadian media said the offences were alleged to have happened since Mr. Boyle’s return to Ottawa.

He faces eight assault charges, two sexual assault charges, two unlawful confinement charges, one count of misleading police, uttering death threats and causing someone to take a noxious substance.

“Mr. Boyle is presumed innocent,” his lawyer Eric Granger told the BBC.

“He’s never been in trouble before. No evidence has been provided yet, which is typical at this early stage. We look forward to receiving the evidence and defending him against these charges.”

There is a publication ban on any information that would identify any alleged  victim or witness.

Canadian reports said the alleged offences took place between October 14 and December 30 last year. - The Nation

Badoo’s priest arrested by police in Ogun state

A suspected high priest of the deadly ritualists’ sect, Badoo, has been arrested.

Fatai Adebayo, the 34-year-old suspect, believed to have protected members of the gang, was arrested in his shrine on 38, Ayegbami Quarters in Imosan, Odogbolu Local Government Area, Ogun State.

His arrest was sequel to the confession of some arrested gang members, who identified the shrine to the Lagos Police Command as their spiritual base, where they patronise for oath taking and diabolic backing before the embarking on gruesome operations.

Adebayo operated in a wooden kiosk situated in his family compound where he lives with his wife and mother.

The kiosks was littered  with fetish accessories, including figurines, rocks, bottles of mixture, cowry-embedded apron, pictures of white men and women, black pots, goats, chickens among others.

Leading a team of security operatives comprising operatives of  Federal Special Anti-Robery Squad (FSARS)  Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Lagos Vigilance group and the Lagos Task Force, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Imohimi Edgal, said the discovery was part of the success recorded against criminal groups in the state.

He said the suspected spearhead of the ritualist sect was also arrested over the weekend during a gun duel to stop his escape.

He said: “Over the weekend, we had far-reaching achievements in the fight against these killers in Ikorodu, otherwise called Badoo. Their kingpin has been arrested as he tried to escape on water.

“One of the suspects confessed that before they go for any killing, the head of the group brings to them a man to perform out taking and the piece of stone they use in killing their victims. He is an accomplice and we are definitely placing him on arrest.”

The police chief supervised the demolition of the shrine after intimating the a community leader in Imosan village, Chief Tajudeen Muyili, who said: “For me, I don’t support nonsense. So, I give you the permission to carry on.”

But Adebayo’s wailing mother, Toyin Ogunyemi dismissed the allegations of aiding and abetting ritual killings, saying her son only performs healing rites for those in need. She described her son as a renowned herbalist without blemish.

According to her, the rocks found around the shrine were for mashing solutions.

“My son does not perform evil medicines. People only come to him for healing solutions. He doesn’t do money ritual except prayers for success. Before God and Man, he is not robber or a killer,” she said. - The Nation

President Trump to North Korean leader Kim: My 'Nuclear Button' is 'much bigger & more powerful'

President Trump escalated his war of words with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday evening, asserting that his "nuclear button" is "much bigger & more powerful" than the North Korean leader's and threatening that the U.S. arsenal "works."

Trump was responding to Kim's annual New Year's Day speech on Monday, during which the North Korean leader boasted that the United States is "within the range of our nuclear strike and a nuclear button is always on the desk of my office."

Trump said in his Tuesday tweet, "North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the 'Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.' Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!"

North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 3, 2018

The exchange represents a ratcheting up of rhetoric, after Trump in recent months had adopted a measured approach to North Korea — relative to last summer, when he warned of "fire and fury" — at the urging of his national security team.

Earlier Tuesday, however, Trump revived his derisive nickname for Kim — "rocket man" — in response to signs of relaxed tensions between South Korea and North Korea. South Korea agreed to an offer from North Korea for the two countries to talk ahead of next month's Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang, South Korea. Kim said in his Monday address that he was willing to send a delegation of North Korean athletes to the Olympics.

In his Tuesday tweet, Trump wrote: "Sanctions and 'other' pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not — we will see!"

Sanctions and “other” pressures are beginning to have a big impact on North Korea. Soldiers are dangerously fleeing to South Korea. Rocket man now wants to talk to South Korea for first time. Perhaps that is good news, perhaps not - we will see!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 2, 2018

Trump's North Korea comments came on a busy day of tweeting for the president, who called for the Justice Department to prosecute and perhaps jail Hillary Clinton adviser Huma Abedin and former FBI director James B. Comey; threatened to strip funding for the Palestinians; encouraged protesters in Iran; took credit for the safety record of commercial airlines; and attacked the news media. - The Washington

Wayne Rooney's wife 'scared for the future' after a 'difficult year' with husband

Coleen Rooney is reportedly scared for what the future holds after a 'difficult year' with husband-of-nine-years Wayne. 

The pregnant mum is allegedly concerned for what will happen when Wayne's professional career comes to an end.

Earlier this year Wayne, 32, made the move from Manchester United to Everton FC before announcing his retirement from international football.

Following a turbulent 2017, which saw Wayne charged with drink-driving, a source close to the couple has revealed Coleen is worried 'more problems are lurking around the corner.'

Speaking to Closer magazine, the friend claimed: "There's so much uncertainty.

"Wayne's professional career is coming to an end in a few years and she's feeling anxious about the future."

The source continued: "She's aware his retirement is at least two years away, but she knows that time will fly by and if they don't prepare, things could go wrong."

While a friend close to Wayne allegedly told the mag that when he does eventually retire: "There will be a lot of pressure on him to be immediately successful and Coleen's worried it's going to be miserable for all of them until he's happy with a secure future."

Mirror Online has contacted representatives of the couple for comment.

Despite the reports, the couple seemed to be under no pressure as Coleen was spotted enjoying watching her hubby play in his latest match - along with their three boys, Kai, eight, Klay, four, and Kit, one.

The Everton player was taking on his old team Manchester United at Goodison Park with his family there to cheer him on.

Coleen, whose wedding ring was firmly on her finger, looked gorgeous in a black star-print blouse.

The source continued: "She's aware his retirement is at least two years away, but she knows that time will fly by and if they don't prepare, things could go wrong."

While a friend close to Wayne allegedly told the mag that when he does eventually retire: "There will be a lot of pressure on him to be immediately successful and Coleen's worried it's going to be miserable for all of them until he's happy with a secure future."

Mirror Online has contacted representatives of the couple for comment.

Despite the reports, the couple seemed to be under no pressure as Coleen was spotted enjoying watching her hubby play in his latest match - along with their three boys, Kai, eight, Klay, four, and Kit, one.

The Everton player was taking on his old team Manchester United at Goodison Park with his family there to cheer him on.

Coleen, whose wedding ring was firmly on her finger, looked gorgeous in a black star-print blouse.

It's thought that she could be due to give birth to their fourth child as soon as next month, and the brunette beauty was glowing as she held little Kit in her arms.

He was dressed all in white as he proudly watched his dad from the stands.

The attentive mum was seen chatting to her sons throughout the match and smiling as she watched her husband go up against his former team.

Coleen has recently forgiven Wayne after his drink drive conviction, when he was caught driving party girl Laura Simpson's car. - Mirror