There was acute fuel scarcity in Kaduna metropolis on Thursday, as majority fuel stations were not dispensing fuel, leaving those selling at the black market hiked the price to over N1000 a litre of petrol.

The situation caused hardship on computers, as many were seen trekking to their various places of destination due to sudden hike in transport fare.

Two State University students, Ahmad and Shehu said before the scarcity, they paid N200 fare from Kawo to the Kaduna State University but now it’s between N300 to 400.

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“Many have resorted to trekking in order to reduce the distance, but the hot weather has not made it easy,” said Shehu.

Major roads had fewer vehicles as the situation had made car owners to park their vehicles until the fuel situation becomes affordable.

However, there was a long queue at a fuel situation dispensing petrol in Kaduna North, where it was alleged they hiked the pump price to between N750 and N810 per litre.

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A journey that previously cost N150 from Signboard Junction to the Central Market, was hiked to between 200 to 250 by the commercial operators due to the scarcity.

Malam Sabo, a commercial bus driver said he bought fuel at the black market for N1,200 per litre, and he could only make a profit if he increased the transport fare.
VANGUARD

The Federal Government on Thursday said that the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP), a flagship of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, is capable of creating at least 2.5 million direct and indirect jobs for Nigerians.

The government explained that LEEP targets zero hunger, zero poverty economic growth and decent jobs through six strategic initiatives which are digital skills initiative, vocational entrepreneurship skills programmes, infrastructural upgrade, NELEX upgrade for employment acceleration, global remote work initiative and labour compliance enhancement.

Speaking at the unveiling of the programme in Abuja, the Minister of State for Labour, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, urged development partners such as the World Bank, GIZ, the European Union, UNIDO and the Bank of Industry to support the drive of the current administration to mitigate the hardship Nigerians were undergoing.

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Insisting that poverty could be eradicated in the country, the Minister said that her ministry has so many structures that could take care of all the issues mostly neglected in Nigeria if they were ignited.

She said six out of the eight agendas under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda are under the labour ministry, adding that it was time to take deliberate actions and think out of the box to make life more meaningful for Nigerians.

The Minister expressed optimism that within four years about one million jobs should have been created through LEEP.

According to Onyejeocha, “We are in a position where we need to reposition the labour ministry. The world is moving towards technology and digitalisation and we don’t want to be left behind.

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“We can’t do it alone and so we need to partner with you to help us succeed in the country. Mr President during his campaign was clear about where he wanted to take Nigeria. Today we want to be deliberate, and accurate to key into the renewed hope agenda and we want to solicit your support to help us in achieving our key performance index.

“The ministry is out to make sure poverty is reduced if not totally eradicated through job creation. If we create enough decent jobs it will reduce a lot of the problems we have today including insecurity.

“We want to make sure Nigeria have food to eat, ensure regulation and workers welfare. Also, empowerment is very critical so we are going to be very deliberate to empower people with what they can use to start up their own business and become employers of labour.

“When you do this deliberately, poverty will be reduced, empowerment will be real and training will be impactful.”

A self-acclaimed cleric identified as Prophet Metuh has stirred reactions on social media after claiming that the world will end on Thursday (today).

He claimed to have gotten the ‘clear message’ and the date was clear that the world will end on April 25, 2024.

In a video that has since gone viral on X, Metuh said, “By the 25th of April, the world is going to end. If you like take this serious, if you don’t like don’t take it seriously.

“But this is real, rapture is coming, on the 25th of April 2024, I saw it very clear, do you understand? I saw the date very clear and the lord ministered to me. He mentioned it twice, it has happened twice.”

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He also berated social media users attacking him over his rapture claim.

This is not a joke, this is a reality. Rapture is coming, prepare yourself. The message was very clear and the date is also very clear, 25th of April 2024. Rapture is coming. The world has come to an end and that is just the reality.

“I have seen a lot of reactions and comments on social media but it doesn’t really matter. What matters is that you have to prepare yourself. The message was very clear, it is not for me to finetune for you to be happy or for you to like it. It is to pass the message as I got it and that is what I have done.

“So, prepare yourselves. This is not a joke, rapture is coming. The world is coming to an end.”

READ ALSO:Prophet Drowned During Baptism, Torn To Pieces By Crocodile

But reacting to his claims, some social media users faulted his claim, saying even Jesus Christ was not given knowledge of the exact time of the rapture.

Ufezime Nelson Ubi wrote, “Go and sit down, even our saviour Jesus Christ do not know the day rapture will take place if at all there is going to be one.”

@jayshualoffixial said, “The man even called his name😂😂😂. Wetin we use your name dey do on rapture dey abi you wan chase clout for heaven?”

Also, @tamtamsege wrote, “The problem is you have all followed a well funded propaganda. And now there is confusion everywhere.”

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@Supremebeing241 wrote, “The same Oyibo that sold religion to you are busy forecasting the weather and drinking beer in the pub every other weekend. But this man who possibly has no less than £2,000 to his name believes “God” spoke to him? What’s that saying again? “Dey play”?

Victor Osemudiame said, “Day don break. It’s almost noon, I never hear horn since I enter office how much more trumpet? The day God go show these fake pastors him other side eh.”

@josephine_ngg wrote, “Make I go sell all my properties use the money chop life B4 I go heaven 😌”

@official_wyreG said, “Please those going please send your remaining funds to my account oooo.”

@IVY_MIKE_SirB wrote, “Government needs to step in and stop all these misleading people because their actions and inactions are a great threat to the existence of humanity. Such a thread shouldn’t be allowed to continue. He needs to be prosecuted for spreading such fake information.”