Between Wizkid and Davido, Who’s On Path To Being The Greatest?

First of all without disappointing fans of both artists, I will say that this write-up is not about the accolades and achievements of both artists. The long rivalry that used to exist between both artistes has since been quashed and on different occasions, both Wizkid and Davido have been seen on stage together or communicating jovially on social media. Even in the recent feud between Wizkid and Linda Ikeji, Davido has shown support to Wizkid in a series of tweets. Also on Wizkid’s recent collaboration with Drake who is unarguably the greatest hip-hop artist at the moment, Davido has also congratulated Wizkid.



The best time to compare artists is actually at the end of the artistes’ career because at any point in time one act could be doing better than the other while at another time the other one could be better off. Take for example, all the media houses that made comparisons between Davido and Wizkid in 2014/2015 during the period when Davido just won the BET Awards and the Headies will have different opinions now that Wizkid co-produced and is featured on a song that is Number one on BillBoard’s Hot 100 Charts.


One common attribute between Wizkid and Davido is that they always know how to win in any situation they find themselves. Recall how Davido beat Dele Momodu and his Baby mama in a social media drama by calling them out on the Osinachi Song that he was featured on. The same was the case during the social media feud between Wizkid and popular blogger Linda ikeji. After the Police invited both parties, Wizkid ensured he was captured in a cordial mood by his photographers with the Commissioner of Police thereby giving an impression that he won the battle between himself and the blogger.



Both Wizkid and Davido understand the music business and have already started investing in other artistes and building bigger teams. Just last week, Wizkid unveiled three top Ghanaian artistes he signed to his Starboy Entertainment record label: R2Bees, Efya and Mr. Eazi. Davido who already had a team of five artistes recently signed two new artists Mayorkun and Dremo to his newly formed label Davido Music Worldwide (DMW) and has been heavily promoting them on media outlets through singles and videos. This definitely means more exposure for the newly signed artistes and also more Wizkid/Davido inspired music, a lasting legacy for the artistes and more money for the record label owners.


On the Hennessy artistry song with Wizkid and Tuface, Tuface was amazed on how easy it was for Wizkid to come up with very catchy hooks and choruses. I can bet that must have impressed Drake too on the ‘One dance’ song which made him feature Wizkid on the song. On the other hand Davido who has a lot of rhythm for a rapper turned singer and loads of energy and meaningful lyrics is also a master in bringing out catchy phrases and words which has become part of a recipe in the making of modern music. Both artistes are big giants in the Nigerian music scene and beyond and to compare both artistes will be very difficult without factoring space and time.

Chris Brown Confirms Tour With Wizkid

Chris Brown , has confirmed that Wizkid , will go on tour with him.

The ‘Zero’ singer, revealed this on his Instagram page some hours ago, confirming the news that Wizkid will be joining him on his ‘One Hell Of A Nite’ tour taking place in Holland, Denmark and Germany.

With his highly anticipated album, which has been described by top music industry gurus as being the key to open worldwide opportunities for African music, and featuring on Drake’s ‘One Dance’ hit song, Wizkid, is indeed going to rule the year 2016.

Don Jazzy Says Reekado Banks’ Debut Album Is On The Way

Looks like all the Next Rated nominees from last year will release their debut studio album this year.
Lil Kesh who lost out to Reekado Banks made the first jump by releasing his first body of work in March although it got a mixed reaction.
Kiss Daniel followed swiftly with New Era. His album has been acclaimed by industry commentators as album of the year.
READ Don Jazzy Contemplates New Job In The Face Of Economic Crisis & Tomato Scarcity
Reekado Banks is now set to make it a threesome affair. Mavin boss Don Jazzy has assured fans that the album is on the way. He tweeted, “Reekado Banks album loading….. 2016. ezpect…….. Well 😁😁 #Reeky2016,#AlbumWeyGoBurstBrain #Reeky2016 👯💃🏾🔥 ”
Cynthia Morgan who was also nominated for Best Rated also says her album is in the pipeline. Exciting times

Photos: Saraki celebrates Children's day with children

Senate President Bukola Saraki hosted some school children residing in Abuja in his office this morning as part of activities to celebrate Children's day which is today May 27th. He read the book, 'Ngozi Goes to School' to the children. See more photos after the cut...

Tomato scarcity as metaphor By Reuben Abati

Read his piece below...



One of the major news items in circulation has been the scarcity of tomato. Incidentally, Nigeria is (was) the 14th largest producer of tomato in the world and the second largest producer in Africa, after Egypt, but our country hardly produces enough to meet the local demand of about 2.3 million tonnes, and lacks the capacity to ensure an effective storage or value chain processing of what is produced.
Out of the 1.8 million tonnes that the country produces annually, 900, 000 tonnes are left to rot and waste. Meanwhile, tomato-processing companies in the country operate below capacity and many of them have had to shut down.
The CEO of Erisco Foods, Lagos, Eric Umeofia laments that tomato processing companies lack access to foreign exchange to enable them buy heat-resistant seedlings and other tools that would help ensure the country’s sufficiency in local production of tomato paste. Similarly, Dangote Tomato Factory recently suspended operations due to the scarcity of tomatoes and the assault on its tomato farms by a tomato leaves destroying moth, known as
“tuta absoluta” - a South American native, also known as the Tomato Ebola, because of its Ebola-like characteristics.
Other reasons have been advanced for the scarcity of tomatoes in our markets: the fuel crisis which has driven up costs making it difficult and expensive for Northern tomato farmers to bring tomatoes to the South, insurgency in the North East which has resulted in the closure of many tomato farms in that region, thus cutting off national output, the recent ethnic crisis in Mile 2, during which Hausa Fulani traders and other marketers engaged in a murderous brawl, climate-change induced drought and heat wave in the Northern-tomato producing states of Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Plateau, Kano and Gombe. In the best of seasons, Nigeria spends $1.5 billion annually on the importation of tomato products. The cost in this regard, seems certain to rise.
Already, the effect of this tomato blight is being felt in households. Whereas a few months ago, a basket of tomato was about N5, 000, it is now about N40, 000 per basket. Housewives are protesting bitterly about how a piece of tomato vegetable has jumped up by about 650%, such that three pieces now go for as much as N500. Tomato in Nigeria today is thus more expensive than a litre of petrol! I have it on good authority, that in those face-me-I-face you quarters where the poor live, it has in fact become risky to leave a tin of tomato paste carelessly or fresh tomatoes lying around: they would most certainly be stolen, and there have been reports of soup pots suddenly vanishing should the owner take a minute from the communal kitchen to use the loo. Many are resorting to desperate measures to sort out a growing epidemic of empty stomachs and empty pockets. Unless this matter is addressed seriously and urgently, the social crisis may be far too costly in both the short and the long run: hungry people could become sick and angry, hungry citizens could become thieves and a nuisance, they could also become angry voters and a rebellious populace.

However, the most brilliant explanation that we have received so far from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development is that there is tomato scarcity because of
“tuta absoluta” . According to the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, a group of experts will be immediately commissioned to advise the government of Nigeria on the way forward. The mandate of these experts is to “appraise the situation”, and then give us “a figure on cost of treatment…so we will source funds to tackle it.” Is that what this is all about? I am not in the mood at this moment, to spoil anyone’s day, with straight-to-the-nose-the-mouth-and-the-groin punches but I think that the response from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture is far from adequate, if not stupid. Please, where is that bow-tie wearing Akinwumi Adesina, the former Minister of Agriculture, now on loan to the African Development Bank?


What we are dealing with is a national food security crisis. Before the commissioned outsiders begin to “appraise and cost”, the resident experts in the Ministry, should know that it is not only tomato that has become a scarce and expensive item in Nigerian kitchens, virtually every food item has become unaffordable and there are many homes that can no longer feed properly. The scarcity of tomato is only a metaphor for the spread of staggering inflation and the hunger that ravages the land. A bag of rice that was once N7, 000 is now N19, 000 per bag, a congo of garri has jumped from N170 to N300, bread from N200 per loaf to N300, and same is the case with virtually every food item. More than this, tomato scarcity is a metaphor for the lack of continuity in governance processes (What happened to all that revolution in the agriculture sector under Akinwumi Adesina as Minister?) and of course, for the failure since independence, to take agriculture seriously as a major vehicle of national security and development. If the response to this query is that nothing concrete actually took place under previous administrations, then what is the present Minister’s blueprint? What is his comprehensive agenda for ensuring food sufficiency?


It is indeed absurd that in 2016, we cannot produce enough tomatoes to feed ourselves – the short of it is that that single narrative about “tomato ebola” calls for more rigorous thinking. It is not enough to deal episodically with tomato scarcity, or the scarcity of any other food item; this must be done within the context of a plan of action. The job of government officials is to give the people hope and not to deepen their agony. A committee of experts looking into the scarcity of tomato, and how to throw money at the problem (!) is a round-about excuse for doing nothing. The knowledge that is required is within easy reach and much of the issues at stake, those within the province of the Ministry and those located in the larger context, are out there in the public domain, and perhaps, also in those accumulated files and old reports that most officials hardly ever read. The Ministry also spoke up rather too tardily.


For weeks, there have been all kinds of ethnic and political insinuations about how tomato became scarce, some of which, allowed to fester for too long, could have resulted in other crises. And we can only hope that the connection between food and health will not be lost on the experts. The health benefits of tomato alone are so many; to have a population no longer eating tomatoes, because of its cost could have long-term health implications. And while we expect the Federal Government to take the lead in terms of visioning, we should remember to ask: what are the state governments also doing? What are the states doing to promote agriculture and ensure food security? Apart from Kaduna state, other state governments have been criminally silent about the food crisis or they really don’t know since they probably get supplies of fresh tomatoes from neighboring countries for their own kitchens. All the big men eating imported fresh tomatoes when we, the people, can’t get tomatoes to eat, just “continuu eh” but don’t forget that a hungry and angry voter is an enemy of politicians.


There is another side to this whole tomato thing that is noteworthy. Special notice must be taken of the reference to the insurgency in the North East as a threat to agriculture. It is also interesting that most of the tomatoes produced in the country are from the North, and the Middle Belt. Check the list of major tomato producing states in Nigeria: Kaduna, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Gombe, Plateau. Also check the list of the states where people are complaining most about the cost of tomato: they are all in the South! We should ask: so Southern Nigerians are grumbling about tomato being expensive and scarce, why are they so dependent on Northern farmers? They want tomatoes from the North, but are these not the same people who don’t want to see Northern cattle herdsmen in the South? Are these not the same people campaigning on social media that Southerners should stop buying beef in order to spoil market for Northern herdsmen? They are now begging for tomatoes from Northern farms?


In Ekiti, the state Governor has already given local hunters an executive order to shoot any AK-47 wielding herdsmen sighted anywhere in the state. It may not have occurred to the Governor that an AK-47 is far more versatile than a “shakabula” that is made by local blacksmiths and that he may actually be sending his local hunters on a suicide mission, but I doubt if the same Governor will stop lorry loads of fresh and healthy tomato baskets coming from Gombe to Ekiti markets! Thus, whereas cattle-grazing is causing ethnic division, tomato is generating so much hypocritical love for the Northern farmer: “Please, send us tomato, stop selling tomato to the tomato paste producers!”. This country is truly far more integrated and its various units so interdependent, in more ways than the politics of hate and division would ever allow the people to see. It is tomato today, should onions, millet and kolanuts also become very scarce, Southerners may start begging Northern farmers to please bring their produce to the South. This is the truth of our interdependence but we need to get our politics right and those who exploit ethnic divisions must allow the country to grow.


One final point: The scarcity of tomato and the threat of a national food crisis should remind policy makers at all levels, of the importance of agriculture. A nation that can feed itself is a safe and secure nation. A hungry nation can only have sad people. Tomato is incidentally, a versatile vegetable, very easy to grow, usually ready for harvest between 60 – 85 days. Those who are screaming “give us tomatoes”, and playing politics with it, may also do well to embark on subsistence farming: create a small garden in the backyard, turn that uncultivated plot of land into a small farm, plant a variety of food plants, remove that your white collar, stop waiting on the Northern tomato farmer, get on with the food revolution we need…while hoping that some day, Nigerian leaders will stop waiting for oil money and rediscover agriculture as Nigeria’s true gold.

Photo: Nigerian man arrested in India for duping 90 people through online lottery fraud

The cyber crime cell of Pune police, India has arrested a 43-year-old Nigerian national from Delhi, who had a staggering 14 accounts in reputed banks and has till now duped more than 90 people across India through lottery scams to the tune of around Rs three crore.

The accused, identified as Igwe Festus Abraham was arrested in Delhi on Tuesday, May 24 and brought to Pune on Wednesday. He has been remanded in police custody till
May 31, the police said.

The investigation was initiated by the cyber cell of Pune Police after a woman registered a complaint of losing Rs 16.18 lakh to cheaters in January this year, deputy commissioner of police (cyber and economic offence wing) Deepak Sakore said.

"The woman received a mail in September 2015, informing her that she has won a lottery worth Rs 4.92 crore. She provided her bank and other details as asked in the mail," the DCP said.
"The accused then called up the woman and asked her to deposit money from time to time under the pretext of various taxes and fees," Sakore added.

The accused met her at a hotel in Pune and gave a bag, telling her that it contained US dollars and even took out four notes from the bundle. He applied some chemical on the notes to show its genuineness.

"He told her that since the chemical was over, he will have to procure it from the UK, so that remaining notes can be analysed. He then left by handing over the suitcase to the woman," Sakore said.

The woman took the notes to the foreign exchange, where she came to know that the suitcase contained plain papers, the officer said, adding,

"After realising that she has been duped, the woman lodged a police complaint. We successfully tracked the accused and arrested him in New Delhi," said Sunil Pawar, an Inspector with Cyber cell.

During investigation, police came to know that the accused has duped around 100 people across the country and got Rs 3 crore deposited to his various bank accounts.



Source: The Indian Express

Joseph Yobo visits Sports Minister

Ahead of his Testimonial and Centenary match at the Adokie Amesiemeka Stadium Port Harcourt, Rivers state today May 27th, Footballer, Joseph Yobo visited Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Sports in Abuja. More photos after the cut..

PPPRA explains role in new petrol price

AS the furore over the new pump price of premium motor spirit, PMS or petrol heats up, the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, has said the recent increase was inevitable, given the acute shortages the market was thrown into for more than two months.

Not to mention the fact that militant attacks in oil-rich Niger Delta, have cut Nigeria’s crude production to 1.65 million barrels per day, from the 2.2m b/d anticipated in the 2016 national budget, leading to attendant huge losses and constraints in funding the budget. Scarcity was further compounded by the inability of fuel importers to access foreign exchange, Forex/FX, at the official exchange rate of N197/$1.
This is even more so as the PPPRA estimated that theNigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, was losing about N12.5 billion monthly for being the sole importer of the scarce commodity. Last Wednesday, the Federal Government, through the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, unceremoniously announced up to 80 pecent increase in the pump price of petrol from N86.50/Litre to N145/L, a development that drew a lot of criticisms from Nigerians in all walks of life.

Specifically, the PPPRA argued that there was a need to liberalise the foreign exchange, FX market, as the fuel subsidy regime remained “(un)sustainable in the face of flagrant disregard by the marketers of the set PPPRA ceiling price of N86.50k/ltr.”

Price hike
In discussion points with journalists,PPPRA offered the following reasons for increasing petrol pump price: *Pricing trend in the past 1 year demonstrates that citizens in areas other than Lagos and Abuja have consistently paid 20 - 50% more for fuel purchased at the pumps.

*Survey by NBS (National Bureau of Statistics) indicates that apart from the Federal capital and Lagos, citizens continue to pay for fuel at an average price of N150/ltr.

*The survey establishes that the subsidy benefits only a few (urban – metropolitan / few higher income groups) as opposed to the larger citizenry. *Expectedly market trend indicates that the current approved pump price of N86.50/litre for PMS does not assure marketers of over-recovery if crude oil price continues to trade above $40/bbl. Thus, an unrealistic price in view of market realities.

*As of today, 80percent of the downstream operators are still unable to carry out their business due to unavailability of Foreign exchange at the prescribed (Central Bank of Nigeria) CBN rate. PPPRA’s pricing template, as approved, only recognises prevailing CBN Interbank rate which averages N197/$ in Quarters Q1 and Q2. Investigations revealed that the alternative source of FX available to Marketers is the autonomous market rate which presently averages N285/$1 2016.

*Therefore, to explain the prevailing high prices in certain states, marketers who source FX independently of CBN in order to carry on participation in PMS supply will continue to sell at prices that enable them achieve full cost recovery.

*As such, the false assumption that the current ceiling price adequately covers cost needs to be addressed by providing marketers an alternative to the primary FX market (CBN). The consequence of disregarding this solution will lead to the unsustainable development of NNPC maintaining the role of sole supplier to the detriment of federation revenues.

NNPC losses
The Pricing Agency further noted that the two months of scarcity was at a huge premium to the Federal Government, especially the NNPC, which it said bore the burden of import 100 percentdue to the FX challenges faced by other marketers licenced to import petrol. It said: “For a Corporation historically known to be inefficient and unprofitable, NNPC maintains 100 percent responsibility of fuel importation at subsidised pricing using Crude oil as a means of exchange. Estimated loss for NNPC is approximately N12.5bn/month.

“To sustain supply, NNPC extended its crude source for products importation from outside the traditional refinery requirement of 445BbLs/day for petroleum products imports, to the use of federation cargoes further reducing the ability of the government to earn FX.

“Similarly, at an import bill of $600m/month for PMS, CBNs liquidity to support the importation of PMS is challenged in the face of dwindling crude oil for exports. The limited crude oil output caused by the spate of renewed vandalism and sabotage of oil infrastructure in the Niger Delta ( now 420,000bbls/day lost) and increased participation of NNPC in products supply continue to imply limited ability to earn FX for the Federation and potential crippling of the economy.

“An immediate solution is the reduction of this crude to products control by NNPC in order to free up crude for federation revenue. Also the movement of marketers to the autonomous FX market will make available approximately $600m of FX via CBN to be used in other sectors of the economy.”

N13.79/L subsidy
PPPRA further noted increases in crude price above $40/bbl band at the International oil market had wiped out the over-recovery of the past months when prices were lower, leading to subsidy levels of about N13.79/L as at April 29.
According to the Agency,”The Federal Government continues to incur N13.79/ltr under recovery, while states fail in their fiscalresponsibilities.

“Growing subsidy differential is a threat to state debt profile. As at 29th April 2016, under-recovery of N13.79/litre was recorded in the price of PMS, thus the need to urgently address the trend, as Government has no budgetary provision for subsidy payment in the 2016 Appropriation Bill. “Deductions from (Federation Accounts Allocation Committee) FAAC payments of N13.61bn recorded monthly while State debts accrue to N34bn/month. If subsidy was removed, a deduction of the estimated subsidy claim will reduce governmental exposure and support States in their fiscal obligations.

“Clearly continuation of under recoveries in any form for PMS limits the ability of the Federation to deliver its statutory functions such as power generation, security, education, health etc.”
Pricing framework

In defence of the new pump price regime, the PPPRA in a, “New Framework for Petroleum Products Supply, Distribution and Pricing – May 2016,” made available to Vanguard at the weekend, insisted that unavailability of forex and inability of open letters of credit, LCs, “forced marketers to stop product importation and imposed over 90% supply on NNPC since October 2015, in contrast to the past where NNPC supplied 48% of the national requirement.”
Apart from pointing out that NNPC neither had the resources nor designed to carry such import burden, thereby creating glitches in funding and remittance gaps into the Federation Account, PPPRA also noted that “There is no provision for subsidy in 2016 budget.” As such the N13.79/L subsidy accruable has no appropriation to cover it.

Against this backdrop, PPPRA argued that “In the absence of available forex lines or crude volumes to continue massive importation of PMS, it is clear that unless immediate action is taken to liberalise the petroleum supply and distribution, the queues will persist, diversion will worsen and current prices will spiral out of control.”

Petrol prices worldwide
The PPPRA went further to justify the increases as it benchmarked pump price of petrol in Nigeria to other countries of the world as shown in the table above.

Presumed benefits
Despite the widespread criticisms against the new pump price, PPPRA identified the benefits accruable from the exercise, which include:

*Elimination of subsidy, estimated at N1trillion in 2015 and N16.5billion from April till date;

*Ensuring 100% FAAC payment on allocated 445,000 bpd and potential additional revenue stream, which can be tailored towards palliatives;

*Elimination of fuel scarcity through products availability nationwide;

*Reduction of hoarding, smuggling and diversion substantially and price stability;

*Encouraging potential investments of up to $3billion in refineries and retails, and;

*Provision of more revenues to government to address social and infrastructure needs and a host of others.



Whether these benefits will be bought into by Nigerians, particularly some of the labour unions, notably, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, and the Trade Union Congress TUC, as well as other civil society groups is left to be seen in the days ahead.

Genesis of Tiwa Savage, TeeBillz marriage crisis

Tunji Balogun a.k.a Teebillz’s outburst Thursday, opening more cans of worms about his marriage to popular singer, Tiwa Savage, may be the last straw that broke the camel’s back.



But before the public meltdown, there has been a deep crack in their marriage.
It would be recalled that their three-year-old marriage has been having problems since last year when the celebrated singer sacked her husband as her manager.

Since then, there have been whispers of things falling apart between them.
Also, in 2014, it was rumoured that their marriage had crashed.

A pointer to this, was when Tiwa failed to wish her husband a happy birthday on her social media page as it was part of her tradition.
It soon came to light that the couple had been having issues in their marriage, and that Tiwa’s family had admonished Teebillz to stop managing his wife and look for another lucrative job.

It was alleged then that Teebillz was always beating her up, and that she had to move out of the house temporarily to stay with a friend. However, families and friends prevailed on the couple not to give up on their marriage.
It was also reported that a family meeting was called and a consensus was reached that Teebillz’s protégé, Mekka Millions should take over as Tiwa’s manager.

However, after that episode, there have always been insinuations that all is not well with the couple as they have been the subject of several rumours that their marriage had packed up.
But there has been no substance to the tales until this latest incident.

Photos: PDP headquarters sealed

Photos of the National Headquarters of the PDP Sealed up at the Wadata Plaza, Wide Zone 5, Abuja. Photos by Abayomi Adeshida.

VP Osinbajo to represent Buhari in Lagos event – Presidency

ABUJA-Presidency on Sunday said that president Mohammadu Buhari's two days official visit slated for Monday and Tuesday would not hold again.



It however stated that Vice president Yemi Osinbajo would now represent the president.
President Buhari was slated during the visit to formally commission the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Rescue Unit in Cappa Oshodi built by the State Government to ensure prompt and swift response to emergency situations in the State.
But speaking to Vanguard, the Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina said that the Vice President would represent the president.

"The Vice President would represent the president", Adesina simply responded when asked.

Vardy atones for Kane miss as England edge Turkey

Jamie Vardy spared Harry Kane's blushes with a late winner as England edged Turkey 2-1 in their first Euro 2016 warm-up match at Manchester's Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Kane opened the scoring in the third minute, but then clipped the post with a 72nd-minute penalty, won by Vardy, after Hakan Calhanoglu had equalised to score Turkey's first goal against England in the teams' 11th meeting.
Vardy rode to the rescue in the 83rd minute, the Leicester City hitman slamming home his third England goal from close range to end Turkey's unbeaten run at 13 matches and enhance his claim to a spot in manager Roy Hodgson's starting XI in France.

Despite a patchy display, Hodgson saw Jack Wilshere play for 66 minutes in his first international game since last June after missing almost the entire season with a fractured shin, while Jordan Henderson continued his recovery from a knee problem as the Arsenal man's replacement.

Hodgson, who was missing his Manchester United and Liverpool players due to club commitments, names his final 23-man squad for the Euro after Friday's game against Australia in Sunderland.

Sunday's match had been billed as an audition for the strike partnership of Kane and Vardy, the Premier League's top two English scorers, but the Leicester star started on the left in a narrow 4-3-3, with Raheem Sterling on the opposite flank.

A sparse crowd at the home of Manchester City saw England take an early lead.

Sterling found Dele Alli and he smuggled a pass between Mehmet Topal's legs to Tottenham Hotspur colleague Kane, whose assured finish into the bottom-right corner was allowed to stand despite an apparent offside.

Television pictures appeared to show Turkey coach Fatih Terim using his mobile phone to show fourth official Daniel Siebert the evidence, but to no avail.

- Late Hart stop -
It was a goal that highlighted England's speed of thought and foot in attack, but Turkey's equaliser 10 minutes later exposed Hodgson's problems in defence.

Oguzhan Ozyakup's pass down the inside-right channel set Volkan Sen scampering in behind left-back Danny Rose.

The Fenerbahce midfielder beat the sliding Joe Hart to the ball and crossed for Calhanoglu to sweep home from close range.

In response, Wilshere and Kane tested Turkey goalkeeper Volkan Babacan at his near post, while Eric Dier headed into the side-netting from a Wilshere corner.

After Cenk Tosun had given England a couple of scares, the hosts switched to a diamond midfield on the hour, with Vardy joining Kane up front and Sterling taking up the number 10 role.
Vardy showed what he could do in a central role by surging clear and inviting a challenge from Topal that encouraged referee Deniz Aytekin to point to the spot.

Kane's spot-kick clipped the left-hand post and went wide, but Vardy repaired the damage by converting from close range after Babacan collided with Ismail Koybasi as he attempted to field Gary Cahill's back-post header.
Turkey substitute Olcay Sahan almost equalised at the death, but his volley drew a superb one-handed save from Hart.

Breaking News: NLC suspends nationwide strike

NIGERIA Labour Congress, NLC, led by Ayuba Wabba, Sunday suspended the ongoing nationwide strike to force the Federal Government to reverse the N145 per litre pump price of petrol and resolved to resume negotiation with the government.

This came as Joe Ajaero led faction, weekend assured that labour movement would engage the federal government to ensure there was a time frame for ending importation of refined petroleum products into the country.

Tribute to a Soldier who died during the recent rescue operation of kidnapped girls & women from Boko Haram

A Nigerian soldier/member of the Armed Forces Special Force, Francis Adigun (pictured), lost his life during the recent rescue operation of women and children from Boko Haram, leaving behind his only daughter Sonia and her mother.


Described as a loving father, wonderful friend, caring brother, great footballer and gallant soldier, a friend - Adewole Pius Adesina paid a tribute to him via Social media. It reads,


"He paid the supreme price, he gave his life for the freedom of others. While rescued women and girls were reunited with their families, he is parted from his forever. I sit here still finding it hard to believe you are gone. Let us always remember freedom comes at a price and let us also remember those who paid the price. He was a loving father, a wonderful friend, a caring brother, a great footballer and above all, a gallant soldier. Rest in Peace Francis Adigun, I will miss you, your family and friends will miss you, the Armed Forces Special Force will miss you. @seal of honour'


May His soul rest in Peace. Amen.

Jaden Smith's girlfriend flaunts her drug use on social media...

Jaden Smith's girlfriend Sarah Snyder has been labeled a drug user in multiple reports. Confirming the rumours, the 20 year old model was pictured with four bars of Xanax on her tongue and another of her standing beneath bottles of promethazine...