Rooney left out of England squad to play Scotland and France

Wayne Rooney has been left out of England's 25-man squad to face Scotland and France next month.

The England captain was overlooked for Gareth Southgate's last squad in March and again misses out for the World Cup qualifier in Glasgow on June 10 and away friendly against France on June 13.

Rooney's last international appearance came in the home qualifier with Scotland last November and his latest omission will cast further doubt over whether he has an international future, one year away from the World Cup in Russia.

The forward struggled to establish himself in Jose Mourinho's plans for Manchester United this season, starting only 15 Premier League games and scoring five goals. He made a brief cameo as a late substitute when his club won the Europa League against Ajax on Wednesday.

Rooney has 119 caps – six short of Peter Shilton's record – and is already the country's all-time top scorer with 53 international goals.

"The Scotland game is one of football's great fixtures," Southgate told the FA's website.
"We are in a place in the group where a win can really put us in a very strong position, and that is what we want to achieve.

Klopp: Recruitment will take time

Jurgen Klopp has admitted Liverpool's transfer business is likely to take longer to conduct than he would like this summer.

The Anfield manager brought in all of his new faces before his squad reported for the start of pre-season training on July 20 last year.

Back then, Sadio Mane, Joel Matip, Georginio Wijnaldum, Ragnar Klavan, Loris Karius and Alex Manninger were all recruited despite the European Championships also taking place in France.

Although there is no such obstacle in that respect this time, the German concedes he is unlikely to have each new addition in place before his players report to begin building up to the 2017/18 campaign.

Klopp, speaking after Liverpool's 3-0 post-season friendly win against Sydney FC in Australia, said: "I wish tomorrow (to have signings completed) but unfortunately that's not really likely.

"The best scenario is that you have them for the start of pre-season but I'm not sure if it will happen this time. It's different with all different players so we will see.
"That's not a big problem because we all know if they are fit and healthy we have a really strong squad and that means we could start with this squad.

"But that doesn't mean that I would prefer this, I would love to have them in as soon as possible."

OPEC admits Equatorial Guinea as 14th member

Africa'sthird-biggest oil producer, Equatorial Guinea, has been accepted as a new member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

In his opening remark at the 172nd ordinary meeting on Thursday, Khalid al-Falih, Saudi Arabia’s minister of Energy and president of the OPEC Conference welcome the African country.
“I would also like to recognize His Excellency Gabriel Mbaga Obiang Lima, Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, and welcome his nation, which has joined the Organization as a Member Country,” he said.
“On behalf of everyone here, Your Excellencies, we look forward to working together with each one of you and your national delegations.”

Equatorial Guinea said in January it was seeking to become OPEC’s 14th member and the sixth from Africa, an addition that would help raise the continent’s influence and profile in the corridors of global oil production and pricing.
OPEC and non-member oil producers are gearing up to extend output cuts on Thursday, possibly by as long as 12 months, to help clear a global stocks overhang and prop up crude prices.

OPEC is to discuss in Vienna whether to prolong an accord reached in December in which it and 11 non-members agreed to cut oil output by about 1.8 million barrels per day in the first half of 2017.
Most OPEC ministers, delegates and the market see a nine-month extension, instead of the initially suggested six months, as the base-case scenario but some countries including Russia have suggested an unusually long duration of 12 months.

“I think nine months is most likely,” one OPEC delegate said. Four other delegates agreed it was the most probable outcome.
OPEC’s de facto leader, Saudi Arabia, and top non-OPEC producer Russia have said cuts need to be extended to speed up market rebalancing and prevent oil prices from sliding back below 50 per barrel dollars.

OPEC sources have said the Thursday meeting will highlight a need for long-term cooperation with non-OPEC producers.
The group could also send a message to the market that it will seek to curtail its oil exports, which have not declined as steeply as its production.

Sources said however, a decision on deeper output cuts is unlikely on Thursday.
The OPEC meeting is expected to start after 0820 GMT, according to a preliminary schedule, followed by a joint gathering with non-OPEC after 1320 GMT.

By 0804 GMT, Brent crude was trading up almost one percent, near 54.50 dollars a barrel.
OPEC’s cuts have helped push oil back above 50 dollars a barrel this year, giving a fiscal boost to producers, many of which rely heavily on energy revenues and have had to burn through foreign-currency reserves to plug holes in their budgets.
Oil’s earlier price decline, which started in 2014, forced Russia and Saudi Arabia to tighten their belts and led to unrest in some producing countries including Venezuela and Nigeria. - Source

Kate Moss reportedly caught up in Cannes catfight

Kate Moss was reportedly caught up in a drunken altercation at a charity fashion show on May 21, held as part of the glamorous Cannes Film Festival.

The supermodel, 43, was walking the catwalk for the Fashion for Relief show, but things took a sour turn when a heated row broke out between herself and a partygoer.

An onlooker told The Sun, “It was the early hours of the morning and Kate was really letting rip… One of the girls came up to her and started squaring up, she didn’t like it one bit.
“She was downing bottles of wine and throwing the flower arrangements around."

Thankfully, singer Mary J Blige was nearby to break up the catfight.
“It was about to get physical before Mary stepped in,” the source revealed.

The R’n’B legend acted as peacemaker by pulling Kate and the partygoer apart.
But you're Kate Moss, you get what you want with her rival being escorted out of the party.
Back to model behaviour, the fashion icon threw a few a back and partied the rest of the night away with her pals.

Earlier in the evening she strutted her stuff on the runway with fellow supermodel Naomi Campbell, 47, and has been spotted living it up on a yacht.
We hope it’s all smooth sailing from here on out

Atiku’s wife speaks on how a pastor she trusted defrauded her of N918m

Titi Abubakar, wife of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, on Tuesday told an Ikeja high court, that she trusted a business partner who allegedly defrauded her of N918 million because of his status as a pastor.

“I thought that the first defendant, being a pastor, he will not defraud me,” she said.
“I thought that he was being genuine with me during our business dealings,” she said while being cross-examined in the ongoing fraud trial againstNsikakabasi Akpan-Jacobs, a pastor, Abdulmalik Ibrahim and Dana Motors Ltd.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had slammed the accused with a 15-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and fraudulent conversion of property worth N918 million belonging to THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd.

While cross examining Atiku’s wife, Amos Ibe, counsel to Akpan-Jacobs, questioned why she used different monikers in company documents relating to the fraud.

“Before I start cross examining you Ma, should I refer to you as Your Excellency?” he asked.
“Why was the name Florence Doregos used in the petition from the EFCC which is exhibit one, as well as other fake names in documents you used to transact business with the first defendant?”

Replying, Abubakar said: “I am Her Excellency forever. It was under my instruction and direction that the petition was written.
“My name is Florence Doregos, my name is Titi Amina Atiku Abubakar, the Mrs in the petition is a mistake made by my lawyer.

“Florence is my name and it was easy for me to use Doregos while I was in state service.
“The name of my biological father is Dorego Albert, we are from Ilesha but I have cousins who are from the Republic of Benin.

“I can choose Doregos, I can choose Albert as my surname, they are all my names, even Dino Melaye, his name is Daniel but he calls himself Dino.

“I can twist my name anyhow I want.”
Responding to Ibe’s questions about her identity when she married the former vice-president, she said “I married my husband at the Ikoyi Registry in 1971.

“I was a Christian before I married my husband, Angelina is my baptismal name, Florence is my confirmation name.
“When I got married to my husband, I converted to Islam and I have been called Amina Titilayo, Titilayo was what I was called at home.”

Ibe, however, still questioning her real identity, told her that a book written in honour of her husband titled ‘Atiku: The Story of Atiku Abubakar,’ claimed that she was from a local government area in Adamawa.

“I am from my husband’s local government area by virtue of marriage,” she said.
“Whether I’m from the moon o, that’s not the matter on ground.”

Ibe, sought to tender the book written in honour of the former vice-president to the court but it was rejected by Oluwatoyin Ipaye, the judge.
“The document does not fall under the definition of a public document under the Evidence Act, it is a private document, it is therefore rejected,” Ipaye said.

THA Shipping Maritime Services Ltd, a company created in 2000 belonged to Abubakar, Akpan-Jacobs and Fred Holmes.
She was alleged to be the majority shareholder with 49 percent shares, while Holmes and Akpan-Jacobs each had 25 percent shares.

Akpan-Jacobs, who also doubled as the company’s managing director and secretary, was accused to have gone to the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and altered the share holding in his favour and forging the company’s board resolution.

He allegedly under the new share arrangement allotted 70 percent shares to himself and 15 percent shares each to Abubakar and Holmes.
According to the EFCC, welding a fraudulent shareholding power, Akpan-jacobs sold a property belonging to the company to Dana Motors Nigeria Ltd for N918 million.

The property is located at Plot C63 A, Amuwo-Odofin Commercial Layout along Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, Lagos.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the defence disputed Abubakar’s claims that she invested over N1.2billion into the business transactions with the defendants.

“Your petition stated that you invested over N200 million and in another document it stated that you invested over N1.2billion, which fact is correct?” he asked.
“Do you have accounting reports, did you hire an auditor to look at the accounts, how did you arrive at N1.2billion?”

In her response, she said: “N200 million is the money I spent in building the bonded terminal, by the time it was ready, it was worth N1.2billion.
“Akpan-Jacobs never gave me any records, I was in the state service, I did not get any auditor, Akpan-Jacobs has the evidence of the money I spent, I didn’t know that our business transactions will become a court case.”

While in the witness box, Abubakar accused Akpan-Jacobs of using her company property as a collateral for a bank loan that he sought when he wanted to run for the Akwa Ibom gubernatorial election.

“He used my bonded terminal as a collateral for a loan when he wanted to run for governorship of Akwa Ibom, when he couldn’t refund the money the bank wanted to acquire the bonded terminal, he sold it to Dana Motors Ltd,” she said.

“I was the largest shareholder of THA Shipping Company with 49% of shares, my German partner Fred Holmes had 26% and Akpan-Jacobs had 25%,
“Akpan-Jacobs never contributed a dime to the company, I couldn’t be involved in all the documentation because I was in service.
“He did the registration and promotion of the company, he brought all the papers to me at the villa to sign, he later fraudulently changed the shareholding powers of my shipping company to favour himself.

“He gave me 15 percent, Holmes 15 percent and he took 70 percent shareholding power for himself.

“I never entered into a memorandum of understanding with him to sell the company, that is why I’m in court, when he couldn’t repay the loan, he sold the company to Dana Motors Ltd.
“When the fraud happened, we initially agreed to settle out of court, but instead of settling, he went to sell the cranes and the company, giving the EFCC N16 million which I received.”

Akpan-Jacobs lawyer asked the court to cancel the next court date slated for May 24 for continuation of the trial on the grounds of his ill health.
“My Lord, I ask for the previously adjourned date of May 24 to be vacated because I am currently battling ill health,” Ibe said.

Babatunde Sonoiki, the EFCC counsel however, opposed Ibe’s request.
“There have been four adjournments at the cost of the plaintiff, she flies in at great risk to her safety from Abuja for every court date and she is supposed to be helping take care of a newborn of one of her children,” he said.

“We have another witness who has travelled on four occasions for 15 hours by road from Yola and the case keeps being adjourned, I will like to request for a cost of N750,000 from the defendants to cover the financial expenses of the plaintiff.”

Ipaye granted a cost of N100,000 against Akpan-Jacobs and adjourned the case till July 5 and 6 for continuation of trial. - The CableNG

Ayo Adebanjo: Restructure now or Nigeria will collpase

Ayo Adebanjo, a leader of Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-cultural group,‎ says if Nigeria is not restructured now, it will collapse.

‎Adebanjo, who is a second republic politician and staunch follower of the late Obafemi Awolowo, said those opposed to the restructuring of Nigeria were the real enemies of the country.

He said this at the Biafra conference in Abuja on Thursday.
The elder statesman said the question of Biafra was not about separation but about living together on agreed terms.

“The question of Biafra is not about separation, the question is how we want to live in peace on agreed terms. Anybody opposed to restructuring is an enemy of Nigeria,” he said.

“That is why I put it to northerners that are opposed to restructuring, you cannot be more northerner than the late Sardauna who was not opposed to it.

“Our problem remains the military. The military did not allow us to settle our problems‎.
“My final comment is, restructure now or Nigeria will not exist.”

He Is A Violent And Jealous Man, I Just Want Out - Wife Tells Divorce Court

40-year-old trader, Ramota Adewale, on Thursday, pleaded with an Agege Customary Court to dissolve her 18-year-old marriage for alleged constant battering by her husband.

Ramota, a mother of two, an indigene of Ogun, resides at No. 12, Babayemi St., Eleere, Agege, a Lagos suburb, described her husband, Tajudeen Adewale, as an “aggressive and irresponsible fellow’’.

“My husband responds quickly to violence; he is always accusing me of adultery; he feels insecure and he always threatens me and calls me a prostitute.

“He suspects my movements every time; whenever l go out, he insults me anyhow, which often leads to misunderstandings between us,” Ramota told the court.

The petitioner alleged that the respondent once beat her to a pulp after a hot argument, in which she collapsed and was eventually admitted into the hospital.

She urged the court to dissolve the union, saying, “I am no longer interested in the marriage”.

The woman also accused the husband of being irresponsible as a husband and father.

Ramota said that she had been the one paying for the children’s school fees and their welfare.

The petitioner, however, asked the court to direct the husband to take full responsibility for the upkeep of the children’s education.

The respondent, Tajudeen, 42, an indigene of Lagos and resident of 14, Aboro-Igbala Street, Agege, denied the allegations.

Tajudeen, a bus commercial driver, told the court that he was responsible and had been taking care of his wife and children to the best of his ability.

The husband, who said he no longer trusted his wife, also described her as “a fornicator, who lacks respect’’.

The respondent also told the court that the petitioner wanted the marriage dissolved in order to be frolicking with friends.

He alleged that the wife is an abusive woman with no iota of respect for him.

“She curses and insults me all times.

“Since she moved out of my house, she has refused me access to my children,” the respondent said.

The president of the court, Mr Philip Williams, adjourned the case to July 4 for judgment. - NAN

Fight Erupts At Nigerian Embassy In Washington

Chaos broke out at a department inside the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington D.C. United States last Monday after two officials of the embassy began fighting.

The officials, according to Per Second News, are Mr. Robert Mumford Ditto, a Filipino and one Saka Ologele from Nigeria. Apparently left fuming after an argument, Ditto, angrily threw a chair at Ologele.

Some officials of the embassy tried to engage with the men but the situation then escalated into a physical fight, in the full glare of dozens of guests and visa applicants.
Ditto called in agents from the Washington Capitol Secret Service Police to deal with the commotion, there after several people became angry at his utterances.

No fewer than five police officers arrived and made their way into the embassy to restore order and calm panicky guests and visa applicants.
It took the timely intervention of acting Ambassador, Mr. Hakeem Balogun, to prevent the secret service agents from arresting the officials.

The acting ambassador has suspended the duo indefinitely, it was learnt yesterday morning.
Police confirmed the altercation inside the embassy but did not report any arrest.
Commenting on the incident, a band of Nigerian workers complained about the utterances of Filipino citizens working at the embassy.

Workers alleged that they have been arbitrary and overboard.
Investigations also revealed that in the Defence Attache section of the embassy, Nigerian diplomats have in most times preferred Filipinos to assist in the work there.
From local office assistants to drivers, the department in charge of intelligence uses foreigners, especially the Filipinos, workers alleged.

It was also gathered that the Deputy Defence Attache has a Filipino secretary in this days where the line between diplomat, embassy workers and spy is sometimes blurred.
“You will never see a foreigner at Chinese, Indian, Russian, even at the Ghana embassy at strategic positions,” said a visa applicant.

Approaching foreign nationals and asking them to work for your government is generally agreed to lie in the realm of espionage.
Some in Washington have questioned the employment of Filipinos working at sensitive positions inside the embassy.
Reports in the past revealed that some foreign workers in some embassies have been caught surreptitiously seeking to discover passwords, details of private and official email, tracking movements and mobile phone accounts of foreign officials.

This is an everyday activity that lies deep within the field of espionage, said a diplomat.
“Drivers deployed to diplomats drive with their ears cocked for interesting intelligence.
“There is a degree of overlap. Diplomats, spies and journalists are all basically nosy people. They all want to find out things that are not generally known,” said a Nigerian diplomat asked about the Filipinos at the embassy of Nigeria.

Real Madrid snap up ‘next Neymar’

Real Madrid have agreed a deal reportedly worth up to 40 million euros to sign teenage Brazilian prodigy Vinicius Junior from Flamengo once he turns 18, the Spanish champions said on Tuesday.

The 16-year-old forward has drawn comparisons to Barcelona star Neymar after shining at the under-17 South American Championships, with Barcelona, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain also reportedly showing interest.

“Real Madrid and Flamengo have reached an agreement regarding the transfer of… Vinicius Junior from July 2018,” the La Liga club said in a statement.

“The player will remain at his current club until July 2019, although he will be able to play for Real Madrid before then if both clubs agree to it.”

Real gave no details of the transfer fee, but reports in the Spanish press claim the deal could be worth up to 40 million euros ($45 million).

Stop Referring To Lagos As ‘No Man’s Land,’ Akiolu, Osoba Warn

The saying that Lagos is ‘No man’s land’ came under the spotlight on Wednesday at the Lagos History Lecture held at the Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, where eminent Lagosians and others kicked against the cliché.

Among those who spoke vehemently against it are the Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos; former Minister of Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu (SAN); former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba; Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, Al-Hikmah University, Professor Hakeem Danmole; Mr Habeeb Fasinro and Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Akiolu said it was wrong for anyone to refer to Lagos as a no man’s land as there were settlers in Lagos before others came.

“Lagos should not be referred to as no man’s land because our forefathers were the founding fathers of the State. And it was after several years that the Europeans came and others,” he said.


Akiolu also said he might storm the National Assembly to demand for special status for Lagos, adding that the bill for special status for Lagos was rejected because of jealousy.

Also, Fasinro said such claim that Lagos was no man’s land was not only misleading but confrontational, as same abused the history of the indigenous people of Lagos such as the Aworis, Egbas, Binis, Ijeshas, Nupes, Brazilian returnees, among others.

Speaking, Okunnu said those behind the claim that Lagos was no man’s land were ignorant, as they did not know what they were saying.

Okunnu nonetheless noted that non-indigenes of Lagos had contributed immensely to the growth and development of Lagos.

He cited the example of the creation of Lagos as a state, saying that though some indigenes of the state were fighting from the outside for Lagos to be given a full state status, two non-indigenes, who were part of Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s government, Chief Philip Asiodu and Alison Ayida, contributed in no small measure in ensuring Lagos was created.

The former minister also pleaded with young Nigerians to shun ethnic and religious divide, especially in politics, saying that his generation had damaged the image and cohesion of the country because it brought ethnicity and religiosity into politics.

He added that ethnic groups like Afenifere, Ohanaeze, Arewa should be playing cultural roles and not be political.

Speaking, Osoba noted that the number of councils Lagos has was not enough considering the huge population of the state and that there was need to ensure every residents enjoyed the dividend of democracy.

Osoba disputed the claim that Lagos was no man’s land as being championed in several quarters.

“We need to understand that there were early settlers in Lagos. So whenever some people say that Lagos is no man’s land, I laughed because I know that there were true land owners in Lagos,” he said.

In his lecture, Prof. Danmole argued that the first settlers in the state were the Aworis, the Eguns and others.

He stated that the unparalleled growth that Lagos had attained over the years was a product of having been blessed with men and women of vision, who had been able to effectively shepherd developments in the state.

Giving an insight into the history of Lagos, Danmole said Lagos Island to the indigenous population was called Eko, a name whose origin was told in two well known traditional but controversial accounts.

“Nevertheless, it is important to note that one version of the name relates to the advent of Aworis, while the other is connected to Benin adventures in Lagos.”

Despite this controversy, Danmole maintained that what was fairly certain was that the Awori settlement in Lagos was earlier than that of the Benin, which eventually subjugated the emergent settlement.

“Written records insist that Olofin, the leader of the Awori at Iddo divided Lagos among his children. Although many versions exist with regards to the number of children of Olofin. These children established various settlements within the Island and beyond,” he said.

At the event, Ambode attributed the greatness of the State to its ability to be the melting pot for all cultures, just as he said that the people of the State over the years had distinguished themselves in making others feel home away from home.

Ambode recalled that since inception, Lagos had effectively transited from an administrative entity to becoming the melting pot of cultures and the socio-political and economic jurisdiction of global significance, rated today, as the fifth largest economy in Africa.

He described the lecture as an opportunity to have introspection into the past, engage in an objective appraisal of the present and, a realistic prognosis of the future of another fifty years.

The governor said such necessitated the assemblage of knowledgeable royal fathers, elder statesmen, jurists of distinction and Lagos indigenes of repute to trace the history of the State and proffer insights as to the areas to concentrate on for the future.

Going down memory lane, Ambode said: “It is important for us at this epochal gathering to refresh our memory about the beginning; the journey of how the Aworis played an important role in the evolution of what we call Lagos today.

“The same applies to the evolution of the Eko Royalty with the coming of the Bini from present day Edo State and even the momentous role played by the Tappa in the making of our dear State. Our greatness is in our ability to be the melting pot for all cultures and as at today, there is no tribe in Nigeria that is not represented in Lagos. From the Hausa/Fulani to the Igbo to the Kanuri to the Ibibio, the Nupe, the Berom, the Igala and so on and so forth all have spaces to live and live well in our dear State.

“Lagos is not just national in outlook. It is international. The Americans are here; the British are here; South Africans are in their thousands; the Chinese are not in short supply; and the Indians even have a community in Lagos.

“With all sense of modesty, there is no other State like Lagos in Nigeria. Some may say we owe this to the fact that Lagos used to be a Federal Capital Territory. But I really do not think so. While that may have contributed to our greatness, we are also a unique people ready to make fellow human-beings from other lands feel home away from home,” he said. - PM News

UNIMAID Female Student Caught Trying To Force New Born Baby Down The Toilet (Photos)

A University of Maiduguru, Borno state student was yesterday caught trying to force down the toilet a new born baby. She had given birth to the baby, but wanted to dispose her. She killed the little tot herself, then tried to force her down the toilet before she was caught.

Facebook user, Enyigwe Supreme Peter, shared the story thus;

  "Some ladies are heartless..crazy, stupid. In fact I don't know any word suitable to describe this lady. Sometimes I wonder why some girls don't have the fear of God in their life.. The picture below is a true life story of what just happened at Murtala female Hostel at the University of Maiduguri today. As a lady gave birth to a female child..killed the child by herself and was coercing the child into the female hostel toilet..My question is... If this lady was treated in this manner will she be alive today?? Who will marry such a heartless woman as a wife?". 

Cleaner Fish Swim Inside Divers Mouth

'Mertesacker is playing!' - Arsenal defence will be unable to contain Chelsea, says Merson

Paul Merson believes Arsenal's chances of beating Chelsea in the FA Cup final are extremely low, particularly with Per Mertesacker set to play as the club cope with a defensive crisis.

Kane hits out at FIFA 17 snub

Arsenal meet Chelsea at Wembley on Saturday looking to salvage silverware from a season that has seen them fail to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.
Laurent Koscielny is suspended, Gabriel is out injured and Skhodran Mustafi is a doubt following a concussion – a combination of events manager Arsene Wenger described as "absolutely unbelievable".

Mertesacker is therefore set to start for the first time in over a year in the biggest match of Arsenal's season, leaving former Gunners star Merson far from confident.

"Arsenal are struggling in defence," Merson, who is predicting a 3-1 Chelsea win, told Sky Sports.
"If both teams had brought their A game then Chelsea would still have won, but with Laurent Koscielny and Gabriel out, Shkodran Mustafi potentially out and Per Mertesacker playing at the back I would be shocked if Arsenal got a result.
"With Arsenal's defence, I can't see them coping with Chelsea's attacking flair. We saw Tottenham play very well in the semi-final and they still let in four goals. Tottenham were the better team on that day and still lost.

"Arsenal need to have their best defenders playing to have any chance and they haven't."
On Wenger's options, Merson added: "I think the missing players will mean Arsenal have to go four at the back. If Mustafi plays, they could play him with Mertesacker and Rob Holding as a three. But if he doesn't then you only really have Mertesacker and Holding.

"If you start playing Nacho Monreal as one of the three then he won't be able to cope with Diego Costa. 

Terry responds to farewell criticism

"They would have to play Mertesacker in the middle because of his lack of pace and then Chelsea would play diagonal balls to Costa who will sit on Monreal and he will win every header and they will go from there. It's a dangerous one for Arsenal if they play three at the back.

"Mertesacker is going to be crucial for Arsenal if he plays; he will have to play very well if Arsenal are to have any chance. If he doesn't play well then Chelsea are going to cut through Arsenal like a knife through butter."

Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-0 at Emirates Stadium in September, but suffered a 3-1 loss in the return fixture.

West Ham consider swap deal for Inter's Eder

West Ham United are considering a swap deal with Italian giants Inter Milan for forward Eder this summer, according to reports in Football London, who quote Italian paper Calciomercato.
Eder, 30, has fallen out of favour at the San Siro this season with Inter looking to cash in on the ageing striker.

The Italian striker only managed to score six goals this season in Serie A and registered three assists.
Inter are reported to be interested in allowing the striker to join West Ham in exchange for Arthur Masuaku.

Slaven Bilic was interested in Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge but is not turning his attention to the experienced Eder.
Masuaku, who only made 11 starts in the Premier League for the Hammers since joining in the summer, has had a strong finish to the season.

The Frenchman, who is only 23-years old, has three years remaining on his contract at West Ham.

The full-back has a more long-term appeal than Eder, but Bilic is keen to add more goal-scoring threat up front and is ready to complete the deal.
With Andy Carroll’s fitness a major concern, Bilic wants a potent striker who can score goals and it is reported he believes that Eder is the right man.

TV weatherman Fred Talbot guilty of sex offences against boys

Former TV weatherman Fred Talbot has been convicted of a string of historical sex offences against boys during school trips.

The 67-year-old has been found guilty of indecently assaulting seven teenage boys during camping and boating excursions while he was a biology teacher at a school in the Manchester area in the 1970s and 1980s.

Talbot, of Greater Manchester, had denied the allegations, but was convicted of seven of nine charges following a trial at Lanark Sheriff Court.
The two charges he was cleared of were one of indecent assault and one of lewd, indecent and libidinous practices.

The offences were against boys aged 15 to 17, and happened during separate trips to Scotland.
One near the St Mary's Loch area in Moffat, Dumfries and Galloway, and the Caledonian Canal in Inverness in the Highlands.

Several witnesses were heard during the trial, recounting their experiences of being away from their parents in school trips for the first time.
Among the witnesses was Stone Roses frontman Ian Brown, who was not an alleged victim but was one of Talbot's pupils.

The 54-year-old said he never forgot the moment the teacher invited one of his friends to sleep in his tent during a school trip.
Brown said Talbot would personally select students to go on his excursions.

Thursday's conviction comes as the former TV personality was already serving a five year jail sentence for indecently assaulting two school boys during school canal barge trips in the Cheshire area in the mid-1970s.
The jury took four hours over two days to consider their verdict. Sentence was deferred until 15 June.

Herrera would welcome Griezmann at Manchester United

Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera feels Antoine Griezmann can emulate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and says any team in the world would like to sign the Atletico Madrid star.

Griezmann continues to be linked with a move to Old Trafford and this week fuelled speculation that he could join United by saying there is a "six out of 10" chance the move will happen.

Herrera is impressed with the 26-year-old's ability and appears ready to welcome him with open arms.
"Griezmann is a brilliant player, a phenomenon," Herrera told Cadena Ser.

"He is a star and all the teams in the world would want him.

"I have said it in the past, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, he is in that group of players that can become their possible successors.
"However, Griezmann is still an Atletico Madrid player and I respect Atletico and their fans." -Goal.com

Court Adjourns Ex-Gov Nyame's N1.64bn Fraud Trial to May 25

The trial of a former governor of Taraba State, Jolly Nyame, continued before Justice Adebukola Banjoko, of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT High Court, Gudu, with his defence team presenting its third witness, Aminu Ayuba, on May 24, 2017.

Nyame is standing trial on a 41-count charge bordering on misappropriation of state funds to the tune of N1.64 billion while in office. He had earlier lost his "no case" submission and had to defend himself in court.

Ayuba, whose testimony began on May 22, 2017 under cross-examination by Olalekan Ojo, counsel for Nyame is currently the acting accountant general of the state. He had earlier given evidence relating to payment vouchers and documents marked exhibit O1.

At today's proceedings, his cross-examination continued with him testifying as to whether the processing of the documents underwent post-auditing.

After identifying the exhibit, Ayuba, told the court that "post auditing" was carried out on the documents.

"Every voucher raised for payment was usually examined by the regional auditor before payments are made and post auditing comes up at the end of a period, either a month, six months or annually," he said.

According to him, such post auditing was "to ensure that the internal auditors confirm the attachments to the payment vouchers".

He added that "post auditing is done after the compilation and computation by the office of the accountant general before it is sent to the office of the auditor general of the state for confirmation and certification before the accounts are published".

He further noted that the memo by the executive governor was the first attachment, while others are those acknowledging the payment and the payment vouchers.

Under further cross-examination by Ojo, he averred that since there were no queries raised by the office of the auditor general in the process of post auditing, "then everything is ok".

Identifying three published reports dated 2007, 2008 and 2009 detailing financial transactions in the state, he said, "All the reports all had the certification of the state's auditor general and indication that the published accounts have no problem."

While noting that no audit queries were raised on the documents, he said, "I actually found out from the accountant why they were not published, he simply said there was no political will to publish the accounts, but that they have been compiled and ready for publication."

However, under cross-examination by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Ayuba was taken up on the accounts of the state for 2005 and 2006, which were not published, as well as his testimony of having been a civil servant for the past 20 years.

Under examination by the prosecution, he admitted to have been out of service between 2011 and 2014, contradicting his earlier statement that he had been in service for more than two decades without a break.

Ayuba admitted that he indeed contested for the House of Representatives under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in 2011. He claimed that he won the election, "but I was not announced as the winner".

"I contested in 2011 but I was brought back to service in December 2014, so it is true, because I was reinstated and pardoned in 2014 and number of years I lost were merged," he added.

He also admitted that while in service, he  never had anything to do with payment of salaries to the governor, commissioners, and permanent secretaries.

Jacobs, therefore put it to him that based on his testimony so far, "you're a politician coming here to help your colleague [Nyame] and you do not have a civil service that was not polluted by political influence".

Justice Banjoko, thereafter adjourned to May 25, 2017 for further cross examination of Ayuba by the prosecution.

Boy waiting for heart transplant gets good news after first lady meeting

A boy who was in line to receive a heart transplant got good news Wednesday following his meeting with first lady Melania Trump.

Trump tweeted the good news along with a photo of her holding the young boy's hand.

The first lady met the boy during a visit to the Bambino Gesu children's hospital in Rome.
"My visit to Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital today was very moving. To spend time speaking to and coloring with children who have such a positive spirit despite illness was an amazing gift," Trump said in a statement.

East Wing communications director Stephanie Grisham told CNN that the first lady wrote a letter to Pope Francis requesting to visit the hospital.

The first lady visited the hospital after her audience with the pope, along with President Trump and first daughter Ivanka Trump.

Woman Gives Sleeping Boyfriend a Hilarious Revenge Makeover

Do you know what happens to you if you drink too much and sleep through a date with a makeup guru? Stephen Hall just found out.

Unluckily for Hall, a Sunday morning of recovery turned into a major makeover session when his girlfriend, 23-year-old Natalie Weaver from Castleford in West Yorkshire, England, sought her revenge. Her weapon of choice? Makeup brushes.
"We were meant to be going out for the day," Weaver told the Daily Mail, after revealing that Hall, a plumber, had stayed out until 6 a.m. "He was so tired from having no sleep, he was falling asleep at every blink."

The best makeover subject? A sleeping one. Totally fatigued from partying, Hall didn't flinch once while Weaver, a receptionist, contoured his cheek bones, lined his lips and applied false lashes. I'll be real - he looks better in a smoky eye than I do.

The pièce de résistance, though, was a set of long acrylic nails that Weaver glued on - that's eventually what broke his slumber, she claimed. "He woke himself up with the long nails and he had half opened his eyes in the mirror," she said. 

"He didn't think it was himself at first. I tried to convince him that he had come home like that."
When he finally came to, though, Hall, in an unexpected plot twist, didn't really have any complaints - in fact, he thought he looked downright pretty. "There was a lot of laughing but he wasn't angry. He is a lot of fun but I think he'll think twice before doing this again," said Weaver.
Yep, I'd take that bet. - Good Housekeeping

We were worst team in world - Mourinho

Jose Mourinho says Wednesday's Europa League victory was validation for Manchester United after being "the worst team in the world" at times this season.

Goals from Paul Pogba and Henrikh Mkhitaryan secured a 2-0 victory over Ajax in Stockholm on Wednesday night and earned more silverware for the club following victories in the EFL Cup and the Community Shield.
Mourinho's first season in charge yielded only a sixth-place finish in the Premier League, but Wednesday night's win secures a place in next season's Champions League - and Mourinho insists the season must now be seen as a success.

He said: "In a bad season, in a season where sometimes I felt that my team was the worst team in the world, where I felt that sometimes I was the worst manager in the world we managed to win three trophies and we go to the Champions League by winning a trophy, not by finishing second or third or fourth.

"We have the honour to go to the European Super Cup and play against the new Champions League winner, so I think the season was really good.
"Tonight was the victory of pragmatism, the victory of the humble people, the people that respect opponents, the people that tried to stop the opponents' qualities, tried to exploit the opponents' weaknesses.

"For me, it was a victory of a fantastic group, but based on pragmatism and based on humble principles. No poets, just humble people."
Mourinho has previously won the Champions League with Porto and Inter Milan as well as claiming league titles in England, Spain and Italy.

But he says this Europa League win with United feels like his biggest ever success.
"For me, it is the most important trophy of my career because it is the last. That's the way I look at things," he added.

"Of course, Champions League is bigger than Europa League, but that's the last trophy and the last trophy is the one where the feelings are under the skin.
"It is obviously a fantastic feeling." 

Photo News : Davido’s Newly Completed Mansion

Some DPOs on payroll of fraudsters – Lagos CP Owoseni

Lagos State Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni has revealed that some Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the state are on the payroll of fraudsters.

The CP made this revelation on Wednesday at a lecture on code of conduct for law enforcement officers.

Owoseni said the era of impunity and corruption among officers was gone.

He warned area commanders and DPOs to shun bribery or leave the state.

He said, “It is your responsibility as a DPO to know those who are collecting bribe under you. If you refuse to stop them, they will stop you from being a DPO.

“It is embarrassing to see policemen collecting bribes and chasing yahoo yahoo boys for a DPO. I would not cover any DPO, I will expose you. Just leave Lagos before I get to your station; I cannot share out of your misconduct. I will give your photographs and details to journalists to expose you.

“I am shocked to hear that some area commanders and DPOs are on the payroll of fraudsters. I am investigating; just pray that I don’t get you. Just know that you are causing pains for taxpayers if you are intimidating them and collecting bribe from criminals.

“It is a curse to build a house with such money; the building would collapse on your head. Some of you even take people to the bank to collect money. If you train your children with the money, they won’t be useful to you.

“If those who were in the force before us bastardised it, we would not have the opportunity to be enlisted in the police.”

He also warned against indiscriminate killings, citing the example of a DPO in Surulere who is currently in detention for killing a young man.

“I am tired of hearing about shooting or killing of innocent persons. No one has the right to take another man’s life. It is only God that has the right to take life,” he said.

“I am tired of pleading with police victims because you are doing what you are not supposed to do.

“Go back to your areas of jurisdiction and warn your men against brutality, indiscriminate use of handcuffs on pregnant women, elders and persons with disability.

“Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) should take note. I will not tolerate any act of indiscipline.

“Learn a lesson from DPO Ijeshatedo, who shot dead a fashion designer. He is in our custody and we are compiling charges against him. He would soon be arraigned in court.

“All DPOs in Ikorodu should use all resources within their disposals to fish out Badoo cult group that has been causing havoc in the community.

“I am giving you all 48 hours to decongest your cells. Nobody should be detained more than 48 hours. I will conduct checks on the cells”, he said.

Court Grants Ex-NNPC Boss, Yakubu Leave to travel Abroad for Medicals

Justice A. R. Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja has granted permission to a former NNPC Boss, Andrew Yakubu to travel to the United Kingdom for medical check-up.

Ruling on the application brought by Yakubu’s counsel, Ahmed Raji, SAN, Justice Mohammed said, “since the prosecuting counsel is not opposing the defendant’s motion dated 23rd May, 2017 seeking leave to be granted to the defendant to travel to the United Kingdom to continue treatment, the application is granted.”

The judge also agreed with the prosecuting counsel, Prince Ben Ikani, that the international passport of the defendant be released to his counsel in the interim adding that, “the leave is granted is for a period of three weeks commencing from May 25, 2017”.

Other conditions attached to the release of the passport are: “The defendant shall return to the country on or before the expiration of the three weeks granted; One of the sureties of the defendant shall file a separate affidavit to be liable in this case should the defendant refuse to return and take his trial; The same affidavit shall be filed before the international passport is released to the defendant’s solicitor; Upon his return from his medical trip, the learned counsel to the defendant shall immediately return the international passport to the chief registrar of the court”.

The case has been adjourned to July 6, 2017 for continuation of trial.
Yakubu’s troubles started on February 3, 2017, when operatives of the EFCC stormed a building belonging to the former NNPC boss and recovered a staggering sum of $9,772,000 (Nine Million, Seven Hundred and Seventy Two Thousand United States Dollars) and £74,000 (Seventy Four Thousand Pound Sterling) stashed in a huge fire proof safe.

Following the raid, Yakubu on February 8, 2017 reported to the Commission’s Kano Zonal Office where he admitted being the owner of both the house and the money recovered.
The offence breaches Section 7(4)(b)(ii) of the Advance Fee Fraud & Other Related Offences Act, 2006 and punishable under Section 7 (5) of the same Act.

He is currently facing a six-count charge of money laundering, non-disclosure of assets and fraud.

Shock As NairaBet Agent Commits Suicide Over N600,000 Winning

An agent of NairaBet, a sports betting platform, has ended his life over his inability to pay a customer who allegedly won a N600,000 bet.

PUNCH Metro learnt that residents of Obadeyi Ajala woke up on Wednesday to find the deceased dangling from a rope in an uncompleted shop at Ajala bus stop, on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

The incident was said to have drawn a crowd to the area and a girlfriend of the deceased, who reportedly worked in a filling station in the area, was alerted.

The lady reportedly passed out on sighting the body, but was revived by the sympathisers at the scene.

A resident, Monday Gabriel, told our correspondent on the telephone that the lady gave an account of what could have prompted him to commit suicide.

He said, “I was going to my workplace around 8am when I saw people around three uncompleted shops in Ajala bus stop. On getting there, I saw the corpse of a young man in one of the shops dangling from a rope.

“As we wondered what could have made him to kill himself, a lady, who later identified herself as his girlfriend, arrived at the scene and fainted on sighting the corpse. We poured water on her.

“When she regained consciousness, she told us that the man sent her a text message yesterday (Tuesday), saying he wanted to commit suicide. She said she called his line, but he didn’t pick his calls.

“According to the girlfriend, the late man had a NairaBet shop. One of the customers won N600,000, but he has not paid him.”

Gabriel added that two persons later came and took the lady away from the scene on a motorcycle.

Another eyewitness, Olanrewaju Adebiyi, said policemen from the Ijaiye division came to remove the corpse.

He said, “I learnt he ran a NairaBet shop. If it is true that he was owing a customer N600,000, he must have received the money from the NairaBet management and used it for something else. I also play NairaBet and whenever I win, the agent I patronise pays me the moment the company credits his account.

“The company doesn’t owe the agents, but some of them play smart at times when customers win big money.”

An official of NairaBet Contact Centre, who gave her name only as Chidika, told our correspondent on the telephone that the firm always paid for any won ticket, adding that it was not aware of the incident.

She said, “We always pay for any won ticket. An agent has his own personal business. He/she is just a partner with NairaBet in which we share commission on a monthly or weekly basis. So, it depends on the understanding he had with the customer or the issue on the ground before he committed suicide.”

The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Olarinde Famous Cole, confirmed that the case was reported to the police.

“The incident was reported. I will get back to you with more details later,” he said.

Defence’ Absence Stalls Agbele’s Trial

The absence of defense counsel in court on Wednesday May 24, 2017 stalled the corruption trial of Abiodun Agbele, an aide to Ekiti State governor, Ayodele Fayose, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an 11 count charge of money laundering to the tune of N1.2 billion before Justice Nnamdi Dimgba of the Federal High Court sitting in Maitama, Abuja.

The money was said to be part of N4.7 billion allegedly transferred from the account of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, to the bank account of Sylvan McNamara (a company allegedly owned by the sons of Obanikoro) ahead of Ekiti State 2014 governorship election.

At the resumed trial today, the prosecuting counsel, Wahab Shitu, told Justice Dimgba that the matter was slated for further cross-examination of the PW1, Alade Sunday.

However, counsel to the 3rd defendant, Olalekan Ojo, drew the attention of the court to marked absence of the second defendant’s counsel, adding that as a matter of fundamental right, counsel to the second defendant ought to cross-examine the witness him.

“There is a second defendant on record which has the right to cross examine PW1 before the third defence counsel can be properly called upon to cross examine. I most respectfully refer your Lordship to Section 216 of the Evidence Act, 2011, which says if more than one defendant are charged at the same time, each defence counsel would be allowed to cross-examine witness by the prosecution.

“The second defence counsel has notice of today’s sitting, but he’s not in court. It would be recalled that, Mike Ozekhome, SAN, withdrew his appearance in this case orally before this court. Since then, there is no legal representation for the second defendant before your Lordship”, Ojo said.

Citing Section 349 of the ACJA, 2015, Ojo argued that where a counsel for a party is given leave to withdraw, notice should be giving to all parties, but in this circumstance, Ozekhome did not write to inform the court or any of the parties.

Responding, Wahab Shitu, counsel to the EFCC, urged the court to take notice of proceeding from inception saying, “there is a proper arraignment with pleas of all the defendants and all the defendants were represented by counsels”.

Citing Section 349 (8) of the ACJA, Shittu argued that, “there is no proper withdrawal of the second defence counsel in this matter”.

According to him, “a counsel is supposed to inform the court of his withdrawal three days before hearing, but no such notice was given before the court or prosecution”.

He said that Ozekhome failed to notify the second defendant for disengaging in the case and thus breach professional conduct.

Shitu told the court the action is a calculated attempt to delay trial and urged the court not to allow it.

After listening to the arguments, Justice Dimgba adjourned to July 3 - 4, 2017 for continuation of trial.

Igbos Are Major Stakeholders In Nigeria, Any Move To Divide The Country Will Be Resisted- Iwuanyanwu

Eminent businessman and politician, Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, on Wednesday said that the Igbo do not want to secede from Nigeria.

Speaking as a special guest of honour at a National Unity summit organised by Arewa Ambassadors Congress of Nigeria in partnership with Youth Assembly of Nigeria, Iwuanyanwu said that the people of the South East zone would fight anybody who wanted to secede from Nigeria, including the Arewa and Oduduwa people.

The program which held in Owerri, the Imo State capital, had youths across Geopolitical zones taking part in the conference.

He said that the Igbo were major stakeholders in the country and would not be party to any move to divide it.

According to him, the federal government did wrong to have arrested the leader of the ingenious people of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

He said,  “He (Kanu) only expressed his view. No arm was found in his possession. We are Biafrans
and we are not ashamed to say it. Igbo have invested more in Nigeria than Arewa and Oduduwa. We want to be one Nigeria in fairness.”

Iwuanyanwu said that the Biafra Republic was somebody’s personal opinion, adding that the Igbo youths were rebelling only against the injustice done to the region.

“Biafra is not about secession. It is a name of a particular people in Nigeria from the South East.

Therefore, it is not an offense to say that I am a Biafran. There was no victor, no vanquished after the civil war. I am impressed with Yakubu Gowon because he implemented all the agreements reached at the end of the Civil War. Igbo were not deprived at the end of the civil war, “Iwuanyanwu added.

He, therefore, challenged the Nigerian youths to work for the growth of the country and shun tribal and religious sentiments, adding that the country had the capacity to become one of the best countries in the world in the years to come.

Iwuanyanwu accused the federal government of currently marginalising the Igbo people, simply because the zone voted en masse for the people’s Democratic Party in the last presidential election.

The governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha, told the youths to uphold the Unity of the country where ever they went.

Represented by his special Adviser on Northern affairs, Faisal Lawan, Okorocha identified cultism as one of the vices working against the growth of young Nigerians.

The president of AACN, Esinrogunjo Musbaudeen, asserted that the essence of the summit was to stress the importance of National unity and integration, adding that the political class had to give more young people the opportunities to showcase their leadership prowess.

Prayer, fast not enough to move Nigeria forward, says Osinbajo

The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Wednesday, said no amount of prayer and fast by Nigerians could move the nation forward without hard work.
Osinbajo said as a pastor himself, he understood the law of sowing and reaping and knew the implication of leaving what was supposed to be done undone.

The Acting President spoke in Abuja during an interactive session organised for public and civil servants on the implementation of the three Executive Orders which he signed last week.

He said the prosperity and abundance being enjoyed by great nations today were not created by spirits, but by men.

While saying the executive orders were meant to aid the ease of doing business in Nigeria, he warned that anytime government officials deliberately delayed what they could do immediately, they were holding back the future of the country.

Osinbajo stated, “No matter how much you pray or fast, our country cannot grow without some of us deciding to do the hard work that makes nations work.

“I am a pastor, a spiritual person, and I understand the law of sowing and reaping. It is a spiritual law that has tremendous physical implications. Every time that we delay, or frustrate what we can do today, leaving it till tomorrow, we hold back the future. We too must reap what we have sown by experiencing delays.
“If you help others to achieve, if you help your nation, you have sown good seeds. You will find help and you will prosper too.”

Osinbajo urged the officials not to see the policies as government but personal policies.
He warned government officials against stifling businesses by delaying their registration, adding that such unnecessary delays also affected employment.

The acting President said, “Every generation of people owes the next generation a debt. That debt is paid by ensuring that we provide for the means for the next generation to survive.
“Or at least, we have a duty to ensure that we do not destroy the means of survival and prosperity of the next generation.

“But there are some people in every generation who have a special burden, a more important role than others in preparing for present prosperity and future abundance.”
Osinbajo stated that small or large businesses could not be created or could be frustrated out of existence if the environment for doing business in a country was harsh or difficult.

He stated, “So when a potential business owner wants to register a company, collect tax clearance certificate or obtain NAFDAC registration or SON certification, or expatriate quotas, or any other papers, approvals or certification from government, and we do not willingly and efficiently help him or her, we are killing the jobs and prosperity that he would have created.

“Every time we say come back next week to someone for something we can do today, we postpone prosperity of one person but in reality, we postpone the prosperity of so many who would have earned something from the business.
“So every time that a public official is an obstacle to business in any way, he attacks the prosperity of our economy and he attacks our future because it means our children cannot find jobs.”

On improved remuneration, Osinbajo assured the officials that they were in safe hands with him and President Muhammadu Buhari in the saddle.
“I have served in the public service most of my adult life. As a university teacher, adviser to a federal minister and attorney-general, I earned salaries; so I understand how salary increases can be such good news,” Osinbajo added.

The acting President stated that Nigerians would soon start seeing the manifestation of some of the reforms taken by the Federal Government in the agricultural sector.

He declared that the country would soon start producing local rice that would compete favourably with any brand in the world.
Osinbajo said this in Abuja during an interactive session with some middle level civil and public servants on the ease of doing business.

He called on Nigerians to increase their patronage of products manufactured locally, adding that this would enable the government to reduce the level of unemployment in the country.

Citing the example of rice production, he explained that Nigeria had enough capacity to grow quality rice that would meet the demands of not only Nigerians but all the countries in Africa.
Osinbajo stated that if Nigerians could consume what the country produced locally, the twin problems of poverty and unemployment would be easily addressed.

He said it was worrisome that rice imported from China, India and Thailand  was sold at cheaper prices to those produced locally, adding that this was as a result of subsidy enjoyed by farmers in those countries.

The acting President added, “It is worrisome that locally produced rice is still expensive than imported rice from India, China and Thailand.
“Rice produced in these countries are subsidised by their respective governments making rice from the region cheap and affordable.

“By subsiding rice production for farmers, more jobs are created. We are planning to introduce some kinds of assistance to our farmers in due course.  Our rice will have to compete with any rice in the world.” - Punch