Why Enugu Is Prone to Attacks By Herdsmen - Alhaji Sambo

The geographical status of Enugu State as the gateway to and from the northern part of the country in the south-east,south-south geopolitical zones has been identified as the reason why Fulani herdsmen's attacks have taken an upward trajectory, the leader, Hausa community in Enugu, Alhaji Abubakar Sambo revealed yesterday.

Vanguard gathered that 90 percent of herdsmen migrating from the north to the south-east and south-south regions pass through the ever busy 9th Mile Corner, Ngwo, Enugu corridor to access their various destinations.

This scenario, it was learned, has made the state prone to uncontrolled hibernation of the herdsmen.

Sambo spoke against the backdrop, weekend, where Attaukwu youths protested the continued stay of herdsmen in their community after slaughtering a Catholic seminarian, Lazarus Nwafor and Ifeoma Agbo.

Alhaji Abubakar Sambo, leader of Hausa community and member, Enugu Constituted Security Committee, said:"Enugu State is witnessing the spate of herdsmen attack because it is a major gateway to and from the northern part of the country to the south-east and south-south regions where these herdsmen come from."

"Before you access any part of the south-east or south-south, you must pass through Enugu. There are many routes which the herdsmen use to connect the state. Some of them come in through Kogi State-Uzo Uwani local government area of Enugu State. That was the route the herdsmen that attacked Nimbo used.

"Other routes are Obollor-afor in Nsukka,Orakamu through Benue to Enugu,Aghamelumu-Nsukka route among other routes. The herdsmen ply these routes to any part of the south-east and south-south. Most of them that are migrant herdsmen decided to settle in some rural communities in Enugu State while on transit. This scenario is what i think,make Enugu prone to incessant herdsmen clashes".

Nigeria Spends N596 Billion On Fuel Import in Six Months

Nigeria, in spite of the declining economic fortunes, spent N595.5 billion on the importation of fuel in the first six months of 2016, rising by N34.3 billion from the amount spent in the last six months of 2015.

According to data obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics, NBS, the country spent N276.226 billion on petrol import in the first quarter of 2016, while N319.28 billion was spent in the second quarter.

The NBS report showed that the amount spent on fuel importation appreciated by 6.1 percent, compared with N561.2 billion spent in the second half of 2015.

However, the report pointed out that the amount spent on fuel import in the first half of 2016 was 12.18 percent lower, which is N82.63 billion less than the N678.13 billion spent on fuel imports in the first half of 2015.

The report also highlighted that the country spent N1.24 trillion on the importation of fuel in 2015.

For the first half of 2016, the NBS disclosed that Nigeria recorded total imports of N3.57 trillion.

This meant that fuel imports accounted for 16.7 percent of Nigeria's total import in the first six months of 2016.

Also, data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, revealed that the oil sector accounted for 19 percent of total foreign exchange disbursements of $5.85 billion by the CBN in the first quarter of 2016.

On the other hand, the CBN noted that in the second quarter of 2016, the oil sector accounted for 23.3 per cent of the $6.09 billion foreign exchange disbursed by the CBN in the second quarter of 2016.

Recently, though, the difficulty in accessing foreign exchange and the declining value of the naira had made imported fuel expensive, a development which had led to calls in some quarters for a further hike in the price of the commodity.

This situation was further worsened by the inability of the country to fix the refineries, making the country to rely mainly on importation and other arrangements entered into by the NNPC, for about 95 per cent of the country's fuel consumption.

Expectedly, the rising fuel imports had helped in no small measure in putting additional pressures on the country's foreign reserves and contributing to the worsening economic situation.

In an interview with Vanguard, Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice, CSJ, Dr. Eze Onyekpere, blamed Nigeria's inability to refine petroleum locally as one of the major factors responsible for the economic crisis the country has been plunged into.

He said, "We should rather be thinking of how to reduce the price of energy which has played a key role in ramping up the inflationary spiral of recent months.

"The reason for this suggestion is clear-- the foreign exchange regime that has seen Nigeria take a bashing and our failure to refine petroleum at home. Evidently, there is no official plan to change the trajectory of the story beyond the private sector-led Dangote refinery which preceded this administration."

Also speaking, Professor Chijioke Nwaozuzu, a Downstream Petroleum Economics & Policy Expert lamented that despite producing an average of 2.38 million barrels per day in 2011 and holding the title of Africa's largest crude oil exporter, Nigeria is nowhere near its productive potential, adding that ironically, Nigeria has to import refined fuel, due to its unproductive and inefficient oil refineries that operate at below 25 per cent of name- plate capacity.

According to Nwaozuzu, who is also Deputy-Director at Emerald Energy Institute for Energy & Petroleum Economics, Policy, & Strategic Studies, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria's aged national refineries have the worst capacity utilization levels of all countries with refineries in Africa.

He said, We virtually import almost all the petroleum products we consume in Nigeria, and export all the crude oil we produce. In order to be self-sufficient in the supply of petroleum products, we require a refining capacity of about 750,000 barrels per day.

"The implication is that we need to construct new refineries with speed, because the government cannot afford to spend the meagre revenues accruing from crude oil sales on importation of refined products."

He further advised that to salvage the Nigerian economy from the doldrums, the Federal Government should increase in-country crude refining capacity for domestic self-sufficiency and export of petroleum products.

"For drastic economic development in the face of dwindling oil revenue, we must face the fact that, there are no easy options; there are only hard choices to be made," he surmised.

Pray for quick recovery of our economy – APC begs Nigerians

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, John Odigie- Oyegun, has urged Nigerians to pray for the quick recovery of the nation’s economy.

Oyegun, in his Sallah message urged Nigerians to support the current government in its efforts towards salvaging the country from the present downturn.

He stated that President Muhammadu Buhari was working assiduously to towards restoring the country’s failing economy.

Oyegun said, “Muslim faithful and indeed all Nigerians are enjoined to use the occasion of Eid-el-Kabir to pray for the peace, development and prosperity of the country.

“Indeed, Nigeria is today passing through challenging times in its socio-economic life, the Party calls on Nigerians to pray and support the administration as it works assiduously to pull the country out of the present hardships and restore the country on the path growth in all facets.

“Happily, the President Muhammadu Buhari-led APC administration is already employing all legitimate and innovative means to restore the country’s battered economy back to health in the quickest possible time.”

These are the currency exchange rates for today, September 12, 2016, powered by ZenithBank

Jose Mourinho to storm the UEFA Champions League kick-off next week

Manchester United coach, Jose Mourinho is set to stir up a storm as the new UEFA Champions League season first round of matches kick off on Tuesday, September 13.

Mourinho who is known for his passionate display during matches and controversial utterances against opponents, especially his opposite number at Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, is expected to do what he is known for - rile up emotions and stir up conversations - in the lead up to the new UCL matches kicking off in 3 days.


While it is not known what form Mourinho's antics will take this time or what his motives are, it may not be unrelated to the fact that his team, Manchester United will be missing this year's top European league.

Arguably the best coach in the world, the Portuguese will be competing for honours in the Europa League while his main rivals; Claudio Ranieri, Pep Guardiola and Arsene Wenger get set to lead their teams to the biggest footballing spectacle in the world after the World Cup.

News making the rounds however indicate that the former Chelsea coach is only trying to draw some attention to himself away from the Champions League as his team squares up with other lesser known teams in Europe.

A Chinese Billionaire may have hidden $2B treasure in Mexican desert

Liu Zhongtian toasting his company's IPO in 2009.

Source: Anonymous/AP

It's not every day that Mr. Bean makes an appearance on the Wall Street Journal's commodities coverage.

And that might not even be the strangest finding in the Journal's investigation into a massive pile of aluminum that allegedly just sat there, unused, in the Mexican desert for years.

To start, some background: China's growing industrial sector has been hard on the aluminum producers in the United States. In 2000 there were 23 smelters operating nationwide, now there are only five.

So when an aluminum executive named Jeff Henderson got wind of a giant stockpile of Chinese aluminum just below the U.S border with Mexico, he decided to commission a plane to check it out.

What did they find?

Six percent of the world's aluminum, worth some $2 billion and enough to make 77 billion beer cans, according to the Journal's fascinating report.

The revelation led to tensions between U.S. trade authorities and China, as U.S. industry executives insist that the metal is linked to Liu Zhongtian, who runs China Zhongwang Holdings, an enormous industrial aluminum company.

U.S. industry officials allege the metal got there as part of a scheme to evade trade restrictions. The idea was to move aluminum through Mexico into the U.S. where it could benefit from provisions in the North American Free Trade Agreement.

"These things have nothing to do with me," Liu told the Journal, although the results of the investigation cast doubt on that claim.

Aluminum manufacturing is subsidized in China, and so Chinese firms were able to undercut U.S. producers; the United States responded by setting up tariffs to make domestic aluminum more attractive.

Routing Chinese aluminum through Mexico was a way to get around those tariffs.

Things went awry when a one of Liu's alleged business partners Po-Chi "Eric" Shen, started to gain attention over some of his erratic practices, which the Journal report highlighted and included spending fortunes on dubious expenses like $70 million worth of red diamonds and rare Ferraris.

The relationship allegedly deteriorated quickly — Shen made headlines in 2014 when he wrecked Liu's sports car while vacationing in Italy, and was rescued by Rowan Atkinson, of Mr. Bean fame.

The metal may never make it to the United States, in fact there are currently plans to ship it back to Asia, this time Vietnam.

Woman hit, knocked to ground by catfish that fell from the sky

A 5-pound catfish fell from the sky near a Philadelphia museum and smacked a woman in the face, knocking her to the ground.

Lisa Lobree says she suffered a cut near her eye and that the experience was probably one of the strangest things to ever happen to her, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Saturday.

“Suddenly, I was slammed by something,” she told the paper. “I was like, ‘What?!’ I was freaking out.”

Lobree says the catfish coldcocked her on Labor Day as she was walking near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Passers-by saw it happen.

Her husband reported what happened on Facebook that day.

The best explanation is that a large bird caught the fish and accidentally dropped it on her.

Mario Balotelli calls Liverpool move the 'worst mistake' of his life

Striker Mario Balotelli believes his ill-fated move to Liverpool was the "worst mistake" of his life.

The Italy international was bought for £16 million in the summer of 2014 by then manager Brendan Rodgers, but scored just four goals in 28 appearances.

It quickly became apparent he did not fit in with Rodgers' style of play and soon fell out of favour, being loaned out to AC Milan last season.

He returned this summer, but, with no future under new boss Jurgen Klopp, who opted not to include him on their preseason tour to the United States or any of the club's other friendlies, he completed a free transfer to Nice on deadline day.

"It was the worst mistake of my life," Balotelli, who scored twice in Sunday's Ligue 1 debut as Nice beat Marseille 3-2, told Canal Plus.

"Apart from the fans, who were fantastic with me, I must be honest, and the players, who I had a good rapport with, I didn't like the club.

"I had two coaches, Brendan Rodgers and Jurgen Klopp. As people they didn't make a good impression on me. I didn't get along with them."

Nigerians will see true change by 2018 – Vice President Osinbajo

Yemi Osinbajo

According to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, the full impact of a positive change of government may not materialise until 2018, although the Federal Government is committed to ensuring the current hardship faced by Nigerians is alleviated.

Mr. Osinbajo, during an interview with journalists after a church programme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital,  said the Muhammadu Buhari administration is “focused and determined to ensure this country is put on the right track.”

He said the government was aware a lot of Nigerians had become sceptical of the ‘Change’ mantra of the administration.

“There are lots of people who will say where is the change they promised,” he said. “People will condemn and shout, but we are very focused, calm and extremely confident that God is on our side and this country will not be the same.”

He, however, indicated that the full impact of the change may take a couple of years, until 2018.

“In another couple of years, we will see the difference,” he said.

“All of us have a part to play in the change. Nigerians must be patriotic in our dealings and daily activities. We should be committed to the nation,” said the vice president whose administration has come under heavy criticism from Nigerians for the handling of the economy.

Mr. Osinbajo also said pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta is the major cause of Nigeria’s current economic recession.

He said vandalisation has led to the loss of about 60 per cent of oil revenue, government’s major income source.

“One of the key reasons why we are in recession is the fact that we lost about 60 per cent of our revenue due to the vandalisation of the pipelines on the Niger/Delta and we lost almost 40 per cent of the gas,” he said.

The Vice-President, however, expressed optimism that Nigeria would soon overcome the challenge of vandalism

“Once we are able to resolve that, we would at least be able to earn more revenue,” he said.

Mr. Osinbajo’s optimism might be related to the fact that the Federal Government recently commenced negotiations with militant groups in the Niger Delta.

The Niger Delta Avengers, the main group responsible for most of the vandalism, recently announced a unilateral ceasefire, agreeing to conditional talks with the government.

On Sunday, Mr. Osinbajo also said the best way for the government to fully revive the economy was to diversify into agriculture and solid minerals.

He said work has begun in those two sectors and results would be gradually achieved.

The vice president said government was concerned about the number of unemployed youth.

He said the government would soon commence the implementation of the 500,000 job opportunities for volunteer corps as well as implement the planned micro credit facilities to a minimum of one million market women and artisans.

Mr. Osinbajo alluded to corruption as another major reason the country was facing its current economic challenges.

“These are challenging times. It is very obvious and we know the reasons,” he said.

“It is high level of corruption and we have dealt with that. We are controlling government expenditure. Once you can control corruption, we are out of it.”

Mr. Osinbajo, a Redeemed Church Pastor before his election, said he believes Nigeria “is one that God has a hand in its affairs.”

“In fact, the reason why President Buhari is in office is because God has a plan and hand in this nation; that this nation will be governed properly; that stealing of resources will stop; that we focused on issue of development.”

Patience Jonathan’s cash: Houseboy, driver’s names used to open $15m accounts

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested four domestic servants, including a driver and a houseboy, whose names were used to open bank accounts for Mrs Dame Patience Jonathan, the wife of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

Sources within the anti-graft agency said on Sunday that the companies’ accounts were opened at Skye Bank.

The companies are Pluto Property and Investment Company Limited, Seagate Property Development and Investment Company Limited, Trans Ocean Property and Investment Company Limited and Globus Integrated Service Limited.

The four companies’ accounts, which have since been frozen by the EFCC, have a balance of about $15m while another account, which bears Patience Jonathan’s name, has $5m.

Mr. Sammie Somiari, who deposed to an affidavit on behalf of the ex-President’s wife, said the former First Lady was the owner of the money in the accounts.

She had revealed that she gave millions of dollars to the then Special Adviser to the President on Domestic Affairs, Waripamowei Dudafa, to open accounts for her.

Somiari, however, claimed that Dudafa opened five accounts for Patience and that only one of the accounts was in her name, while the other four were opened in the names of companies belonging to Dudafa.

A detective at the EFCC, however, revealed that Dudafa used his domestic servants’ names to open the four other accounts and then deposited the money into the accounts.

The operative added, “We were investigating Dudafa when we stumbled on those four companies’ domiciliary accounts opened at Skye Bank with a balance of about $15m. On further investigation, we were able to identify the directors of the companies.

“When we detained the directors, we found out that they were Dudafa’s domestic servants. One of them was a houseboy while another one was a driver. Their photographs were used in opening the accounts and their signatures were forged.

“We found out that these domestic servants were completely innocent because they had no access to the accounts. We have since released them. The sole signatory to the accounts was Patience Jonathan and she was issued with a special card, which is accepted worldwide. She has a separate account, which was opened in her name and has a balance of $5m.”

The detective said a lawyer, Amajuoyi Briggs, who allegedly helped Dudafa to perpetrate the fraud, would also be arraigned.

It was learnt that two Skye Bank executives, Demola Bolodeoku and Dipo Oshodi, who helped Dudafa to open the accounts on March 22, 2010, were also being investigated.

The detective added, “This is a clear case of fraud and there is no way the bank officials will say they did not know what was going on. They are under investigation and those found culpable will be arraigned.”

The EFCC operative said he could not immediately confirm if the transaction was reported to the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Unit.

He explained that the commission had discovered a trend which politicians used in laundering and concealing funds, saying it was becoming more rampant due to the operation of the Bank Verification Number which links all accounts owned by an individual.

He added, “What we have noticed is that in order to conceal funds, what politicians and top civil servants do is to open bank accounts in the name of family or friends and then make themselves the sole signatory to the account.

“Don’t forget that we traced about 17 bank accounts to the immediate past Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (retd.).

“Often times, they do this in connivance with bank officials and that is why the EFCC Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu, has said henceforth, whenever we are investigating a bank official, we will probe the entire bank as well because these officials usually act under the instruction of their superiors.”

Jonathan’s wife has, however, sued Skye Bank for freezing her bank accounts and giving the EFCC vital information about her finances.

She also wants the court to order Skye Bank to pay her damages in the sum of N200m for what she termed a violation of her right to own personal properties under Section 44 of the 1999 Constitution.

(PUNCH)

Hillary Clinton cancels California trip after pneumonia forces 9/11 ceremony departure

Hillary Clinton has cancelled a trip to California to attend fundraising events after it emerged the Democratic presidential nominee has pneumonia and been advised to rest by her doctor.

An aide announced the cancellation on Sunday night following Clinton’s abrupt departure from the 9/11 memorial ceremony in downtown Manhattan because, her campaign initially said, she felt “overheated”.

Clinton was scheduled to attend fundraisers on Monday and Tuesday in California, and tape an episode of the Ellen DeGeneres Show.

On Sunday morning Clinton was helped into a car away from the memorial, where she had been attending a ceremony marking the 15th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. She later travelled to her daughter’s apartment, and eventually to her home in Chappaqua, New York, before her campaign gave a more complete explanation of what had happened.

“Secretary Clinton has been experiencing a cough related to allergies,” Dr Lisa R Bardack said in a statement. “On Friday, during follow up evaluation of her prolonged cough, she was diagnosed with pneumonia. She was put on antibiotics, and advised to rest and modify her schedule.

“While at this morning’s event, she became overheated and dehydrated. I have just examined her and she is now re-hydrated and recovering nicely.”

Clinton left the Ground Zero ceremony after an hour and 30 minutes. Video posted by a bystander to Twitter appeared to show the former secretary of state extremely unsteady and supported by aides, being helped from the curb into a vehicle.

A security official who did not wish to be identified told the Guardian Clinton had walked from the ceremony without support, got into a vehicle and been driven away.

“She didn’t look great,” he said. “Maybe she was dehydrated. These guys work 16 hours every day.”

A statement from campaign spokesman Nick Merrill subsequently said: “Secretary Clinton attended the September 11th Commemoration Ceremony for just an hour and 30 minutes this morning to pay her respects and greet some of the families of the fallen.”

Later versions of the statement omitted the word “just”.

Merrill added: “During the ceremony, she felt overheated so departed to go to her daughter’s apartment, and is feeling much better.”

Clinton’s van and security detail travelled to Chelsea Clinton’s Manhattan apartment, in the Flatiron at 26th and Madison Avenue.

Reporters travelling with the campaign noticed Clinton’s departure from the memorial at about 9.36am. The campaign did not respond to their questions or those from the Guardian until 11.03am local time, an unusually long lapse from a meticulous campaign organisation. The campaign later said Clinton had not intended to stay for the entire ceremony at Ground Zero, where temperatures were in the low 80s fahrenheit, around 28C, with relatively low humidity of around 46%.

Clinton left her daughter’s apartment at about 11.45am, smiling and waving to a scrum of cameras and posing for a picture with a young girl before stepping into a campaign vehicle.

“I’m feeling great. It’s a beautiful day in New York,” she said, before heading for her home in Chappaqua, in New York state. According to the Clinton campaign, Dr Bardack examined Clinton there.

.

Clinton, who spoke at a fundraising event in New York on Friday night, recently sustained a coughing attack during a campaign event in Cleveland, fuelling rightwing suspicion about her health and leading to the creation of a hashtag, #HackingHillary. Her opponent, Donald Trump, used reaction on social media to push his case that the press is biased, tweeting: “Mainstream media never covered Hillary’s massive ‘hacking’ or coughing attack, yet it is #1 trending. What’s up?”

Despite a lack of evidence that Clinton is in poor health, Trump and his allies have insinuated that her health is declining and she “lacks the stamina” to be commander-in-chief at the age of 68. Clinton’s campaign has accused her 70-year-old opponent of peddling conspiracy theories.

Clinton has made light of such speculation, joking to talkshow host Jimmy Kimmel: “Back in October, the National Enquirer said I’d be dead in six months. So with every breath I take, I feel like it’s a new lease on life.”

Rumors about Clinton’s health appear to stem from a 2012 incident in which Clinton fell, a mishap attributed to a stomach virus. She suffered a concussion and a subsequent blood clot in the brain, which later testing showed to have cleared completely.

Dr Bardack is chair of internal medicine at the Mount Kisco Medical Group in New York and has been Clinton’s personal physician since 2001. She addressed Clinton’s concussion in 2012, for which the Democratic nominee still takes an anticoagulant. In a doctor’s note released last summer, Bardack declared Clinton “in excellent physical condition and fit to serve as president of the United States”.

In 2008, Barack Obama, then 47, released a 276-page report about his health. His opponent, John McCain, then 71, made available more than 1,000 pages related to his own medical history.

In contrast, Clinton has released only a few pages of records and Trump has released only a letter from his personal physician which contains few details and which the doctor subsequently said was “rushed”, prompting calls for more detail from both candidates.

Trump is scheduled to appear on the Dr Oz television show later this week, to discuss both presidential nominees’ health.

A spokesman for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian nominee, said in a statement to the Guardian on Sunday: “Given Governor Johnson’s level of fitness and exercise, his medical records haven’t been much of an issue. We will discuss with him how and what information to release.”

(The Guardian UK)

Queeneth Agbor: Actress thinks sex before marriage is important for successful relationship, believes Calabar women are trained to give satisfaction to their partners

Cross River State born actress, Queeneth Agbor, has shared a comment stating her belief that sex before marriage is essential for the success of the union.

According to Agbor who spoke to Punch News in an interview, this can safeguard against promiscuity and mistrust, as it is all about getting the best out of the relationship.

"You have to know your package, I am not saying just go into it anyhow but just test it."

"You need to know what you are going into, so you don’t start cheating on your spouse."

"Most marriages that break up are solely because of this issue. So I think it is important for you to know what you are getting into."

The actress, who is also a native of Calabar also disagreed with suggestions that women from her hometown are husband snatchers.

She however thinks they have all the right attributes needed to satisfy a man.

The actress believes Calabar women are trained to give satisfaction to their partners

“I don’t think we (Calabar girls) are husband snatchers, but we know how to keep a man to ourselves."

"Some men don’t like food, so you might not be able to keep him through that, but men like it when a lady is clean and of course good in bed."

"A  Calabar girl is a combination of all."

Agbor is known for her participation in the movie, "Hooked", which featured popular actor, Francis Duru.

Economy will bounce back, Buhari assures Nigerians

President Muhammadu Buhari has saluted Nigerians for their steadfastness in spite of the difficult economic times confronting the country.

Buhari, in his Eid-el-Kabir message to Nigerians released in Abuja on Sunday, gave the assurance that his administration would get the economy right.

According to him, the Federal Government is “working round the clock” to address the current hardship the country is going through.

He attributed the economic recession to cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times.

“It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today.

“I assure you that this administration is working round the clock to remove the hardships the country is going through.”

He said development programmes had been designed to reinvigorate the economy and enhance living standards of ordinary people.

These, according to the President, include rail and road constructions, housing sector projects, support for farmers in small and medium scale industries, youth and women empowerment programmes and support for revival of industries.

“We are getting security right. We are stopping corruption in its tracks and we will get the economy right by the grace of God.’’

Buhari enjoined Muslims to live by the dictates of Islam by maintaining good relationships with their Christian brothers and sisters.

José Mourinho criticises players and Mark Clattenburg after derby loss

José Mourinho questioned whether some of his players were able to cope with the pressures of the Manchester derby, accusing them of “really poor individual performances” after a 2-1 defeat that finished with him heavily criticising the referee, Mark Clattenburg, as well as his own team.

Mourinho was incensed that Clattenburg did not award his team a penalty and show a red card to Claudio Bravo after Manchester City’s new goalkeeper, at fault for Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal, dived into a challenge on Wayne Rooney 11 minutes into the second half.

However, the Manchester United manager also turned on his own players for the first time since taking the job in the summer. Henrikh Mkhitaryan was substituted at half-time on his first start since signing from Borussia Dortmund. Jesse Lingard was also substituted during the interval but Mourinho said there were other players who had performed badly.

“I didn’t change after 20 minutes because I didn’t want to destroy the players,” Mourinho said. “I didn’t want to make three changes at half-time, but if it was a sport with a free number of changes I would have done it after 20 minutes. I made a couple of decisions [with the starting lineup] because I thought the individual qualities of certain players would give me what I wanted. But I didn’t get it.

“But it is not just about them. We lost the ball very easily. Even our central defenders [Eric Bailly and Daley Blind], who were top-class until today, lost easy balls. What I told them at half-time was: ‘For some of you, it looks like you are trying to do what I told you not to do.’ I had told the players 20 times never to play a first-station ball – ‘never, because they [City] want to press, so never do that’ – and they did it 20 times.

“I think some of the boys felt the dimension of the game. Everything around the game – the derby, the big game, Man United, Man City, the focus, the attention. Some of the guys, they felt it. But it had nothing to do with inexperience or age because we have the kid [Marcus Rashford] in the second half and the kid looked like he was playing in the under-18s against Salford City. It’s about the individual and how everyone reacts to the dimension of the occasion in different ways. It’s difficult to predict.”

Kevin De Bruyne had opened the scoring for City and Kelechi Iheanacho doubled their lead in the 35th minute before Ibrahimovic capitalised on Bravo’s mistake to score the goal that set up a thrilling second half. Bravo, signed from Barcelona to replace Joe Hart, had a difficult debut but Pep Guardiola was supportive of his new signing.

“Claudio Bravo’s personality showed me a lot today,” the City manager said. “Sometimes when that happens maybe the player can think: ‘It is my fault.’ Instead Claudio said: ‘OK, it’s football, we were unlucky, the situation is unlucky,’ and in the second half look what he did – he played again and again with the ball. He was amazing with his feet – saves, going to attack the ball. I am happy for him. It was not an easy first game, after two training sessions, coming here to Old Trafford, and to play with that personality means a lot.”

Mourinho was less impressed and thought the goalkeeper should have been sent off. “I know the rules of the game. It’s obvious it was a penalty and a red card for Bravo. If it was outside the box, a direct free-kick and a red card. Inside the box, it is more difficult [for a referee] because it’s a big decision and sometimes referees are like us, human, and think twice before big decisions.

“If he [Clattenburg] doesn’t think twice, it’s a penalty and a red card with a big possibility of 2-2 and a lot of time to go. We could have been talking about a completely different story. We were punished by our bad first half, my responsibility, and we were punished by Mark with his bad decisions in the second half.”

By December, Bag of Rice May Sell for N40,000 – Minister

The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has said that Nigeria spends about $22bn a year on importation of food.

Lokpobiri made this known on Saturday at a town hall meeting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He said the development had led to the astronomical rise in price of rice and other commodities, stressing that if Nigerians failed to produce some of the items being imported, before December the price of rice would skyrocket to N40,000 a bag.

He said there was a projection that by 2050, Nigeria’s population would be 450 million, wondering what would happen then if the people could not feed themselves now.

Lokpobiri said, “For your information, we spend about $22bn a year importing food into Nigeria. We know how many more dollars … and that is why you see the price of rice going up.

“Price of rice was N12,000 some months ago, but it is now about N26,000 and if we don’t start producing, by December it could be N40,000.

“Rice matures in three months. So, this is a wake up call for Bayelsa people to take the four farms we have seriously. The federal government has four farms in the state in our records. The average land you see in Bayelsa can grow rice, so the colonial masters were not wrong in their assessment when they said Niger Delta could feed not only Nigeria but the entire West Africa sub-region.

“Unfortunately, agriculture till today, is not a priority of the Niger Delta as far as the state governments are concerned because of oil.”

He said the states in the Niger Delta had yet to give priority to agriculture the way the North-West states such as Kebbi, Jigawa, Kano as well as other states like Lagos, Ebonyi, Anambra, have prioritised it.

He said Anambra State for instance, was not owing salaries despite the fact that it does not have oil but raking in money by exporting vegetables.

BREXIT: Britons might need to pay for permission to visit EU - EU Secretary

EU Secretary, Amber Rudd

Britons could be forced to pay for permission to travel to the EU after Brexit, the home secretary has admitted, warning that the restrictions are likely to form part of the negotiations over departure.

In her first significant interview since taking over the post in July, Amber Rudd said the possible need to apply for permission to travel under a visa waiver scheme being considered by the European commission was not the preferred option but could not be discounted.

Asked on BBC1’s The Andrew Marr Show on Sunday if UK nationals might be shocked to have to pay for permission to visit France, Rudd replied: “I think they would be surprised. I don’t think it’s particularly desirable, but we don’t rule it out, because we have to be allowed a free hand to get the best negotiations.”

She added: “My reaction to that is it’s a reminder that this is a two-way negotiation. The EU and the commissioners may be considering issues, alternatives. They will be considering their negotiations with us, just as we are with them. But I’m going to make sure that what we do get is in the best interests of the UK.”

On Saturday, the Guardian reported that as part of draft European commission legislation for the EU travel information and authorisation system (Etias), France and Germany both back a system based on the US Esta scheme, which requires visitors from countries that do not require full visas to apply online for permission to travel, preferably 72 hours before they leave, at a cost of $14 (£10).

As EU citizens, though not from the Schengen free movement area, UK nationals must show a valid passport to enter the zone but can then travel freely within it. But after Brexit, British citizens could have to apply through the Etias scheme and pay to visit, legal experts told the Guardian.

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Andy Burnham, the shadow home secretary, said Rudd’s comments pointed to “yet another example of the drift and confusion as a result of the government’s failure to plan for Brexit”.

He said: “The home secretary’s words will not have reassured ordinary families about the cost of Brexit. She seems to be sympathetic to an idea that will put a flat £50 tax on the average family holiday in Europe. Tory ministers might think nothing of that, but it would make it even harder for ordinary families to afford a holiday.

“Norway doesn’t have the charge so why should we? I challenge the home secretary to rule it out.”

Rudd, a prominent supporter of remaining in the EU before the June referendum, otherwise gave very few details of how she might seek to balance controlling immigration numbers from the EU with keeping some access to the bloc’s single market.

“What I do think the British public voted for was to make sure that we reduce immigration from the European Union,” Rudd said. “That’s a given. We have to find a way of doing that. I wouldn’t necessarily say what it means to do with the single market, but what I would say is we have to work out how we can do that, while promoting and protecting the economy.”

While confirming the intention to reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands, Rudd said she could give no details as to which areas would be tackled.

“I can’t tell you which portion of which area of immigration we’re actually going to drive down more than the other,” she said. “Because we’re going to be entering into a negotiation with the European Union.”

Pressed on details, Rudd echoed Theresa May’s words on Brexit, saying: “I know you want me to give a running commentary on the negotiations, but I’m not in a position to do that.”

She added: “What we’re going to look at is how we can get the best for the economy – driving the numbers down but protecting the people who really add value to the economy. I can’t give specific areas at the moment.”

With May ruling out a points-style system last week, Rudd was asked if there would be some sort of work permit scheme for EU arrivals. She said: “I think that work permits certainly has value. But as I said, we’re not ruling anything out at the moment.”

Amid concerns from universities that student arrivals could be reduced, Rudd sought to give some reassurance. She said: “We’re looking at a number of options. But students do make an important contribution. There’s going to be no blanket banning students coming to the UK. But we are looking at bringing down the numbers overall.”

Finally, Rudd was asked about about her comments during the Brexit campaign about Boris Johnson being “the life and soul of the party, but he’s not the man you want driving you home at the end of the evening”.

Asked if she was happy with Johnson at the wheel now he is foreign secretary, Rudd responded: “Boris is not the driver. Theresa May is the driver. The rest of us are in the car. She’s very clear we’re all focused in the same direction.”

Buhari in Sallah message: We cannot “separate the present from the past.”

President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday reassured Nigerians that his administration was committed to removing “the hardships the country is going through.”

In a Sallah message to Nigerians to mark Monday’s Eid-el-Kabir, Mr. Buhari explained that “the present recession is as a result of cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times.”

“It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today,” he said.

He highlighted various sectors his administration was working on to improve the life of Nigerians.

Read the president’s full statement below:

Fellow Compatriots, as you celebrate the Eid-El-Kabir, I salute your steadfastness in spite of the difficult economic times the country is going through.

The lessons of the Eid are piety and sacrifice and, my dear brothers and sisters, you have exhibited these in equal measure.

The present recession is as a result of cumulative effects of worldwide economic downturn and failure in the past to plan and save for difficult times. It is impossible to separate the present from the past to appreciate the extent to which mistakes of the past are affecting everyday life today.

I assure you that this administration is working round the clock to remove the hardships the country is going through. Rail and road constructions, projects in the housing sector, support for farmers and for small and medium scale industries, youth and women’s empowerment programmes, support for revival of industries are all designed to reinvigorate the economy and enhance living standards of ordinary people.

We are getting security right. We are stopping corruption in its tracks and we will get the economy right by the Grace of God.

I enjoin Muslims to live by the dictates of Islam, to keep good relationships with their Christian brothers and sisters and as patriots to maintain the spirit of the Nigerian nation.

I wish everyone happy holidays.