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Dele Alake, Nigeria’minister of solid minerals development, has urged African nations to transform their vast mineral wealth into a foundation for industrialisation rather than remain suppliers of raw materials to global markets.

Speaking at the African Mining Week in Cape Town, South Africa, Alake, who chairs the African Minerals Strategy Group (AMSG), called for a unified vision to make minerals the fulcrum of Africa’s transformative industrialization.

‘Africa’s minerals have powered industrialisation elsewhere while our own economies remain under-industrialized. This paradox must end,’ he stated.

Represented by Farouk Yabo, permanent secretary to the ministry, the minister outlined Nigeria’s reforms aimed at boosting local value addition, including gold refining, lithium processing, and the revocation of dormant licenses to attract credible investors.

He stated that Nigeria is digitizing mining processes to enhance transparency and traceability, while working to amend the 2007 Minerals and Mining Act to strengthen the sector’s legal framework.

Alake also emphasized that all Nigerian minerals will henceforth be traceable to either licensed holders or registered artisanal and small-scale miners. At the AMSG ministerial roundtable, the minister highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to building strong institutions and policies that will help achieve the country’s $1 trillion economy target by 2030.

He further urged African countries to prioritize geological mapping and effective supervision of mining operations, noting that only licensed operators should be allowed to mine.

Nigeria was also featured in the Country Spotlight Session, where Yabo presented investment opportunities in the nation’s solid minerals sector and incentives available to investors.

The event was attended by mining ministers from DRC, Zimbabwe, and Sierra Leone, alongside representatives from Ghana, Gambia, and major private sector players across the continent, according to a statement signed by Segun Tomori, special assistant on Media to the minister of Solid Minerals Development.

Opeyemi Ayanwale, known as Imisi, has claimed victory in Big Brother Naija Season 10 (’10/10′), walking away with the N150 million prize on October 5, 2025. The 23-year-old fashion designer and actor from Oyo State edged out Precious Ashiogwu (Dede) in the final showdown, revealed live by host Ebuka Obi-Uchendu.

Imisi had 42.8 percent of the votes with Dede coming second at 15.94 percent. Social media lit up with #Imisi, praising her consistent popularity and bold moves.

Imisi entered as a fan favorite, blending creativity in tasks with sharp one-liners that kept the house lively. Her acting skills shone in dramas, and she formed key bonds that carried her to the end. ‘Grateful to my supporters-this is our win,’ she shared, hugging Dede onstage amid cheers. The package adds a SUV and sponsor perks from platforms like Showmax. Imisi’s creative edge positions her well for post-show fortune, much like previous stars. Whitemoney, Season 6 winner, used his N90 million to land deals with TECNO Mobile and Hero Lager, launching his White Money Party Jollof food line for ongoing revenue. Mercy Eke, Phyna, and Ilebaye are the other female winners who

With her fashion and acting resume, Imisi could secure clothing brand tie-ups or Nollywood roles soon. She’s spoken of channeling funds into a design studio. ImisiNation fans are already pushing for collabs, signaling events, ads, and ambassadorships ahead.

History proves the house boosts careers-non-winners like Tacha built empires too-but for Imisi, the crown amplifies it all into lasting wealth.

In his recent national address, President Bola Tinubu once again placed Nigerian youths at the centre of his administration’s vision.

He spoke of his administration’s empowerment, job creation, and investment in education, especially the introduction of a scholarship and loan scheme, through the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), in which about 510,000 students in tertiary institutions across Nigeria are said to have benefitted so far.

The beneficiaries are in 228 higher institutions across 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

However, observers say the current number of students benefiting from the student loan scheme is very small compared to the country’s millions of students.

While the NELFUND has made significant progress in just one year, with over half a million applications received, the scale of the problem and the limited number of beneficiaries relative to the total student population suggests the scheme’s impact is still small.

Many Nigerians say by focusing only on the loans without bringing the entire issue of higher education funding into full focus, the government has only paid attention to the branch, rather than the tree itself.

Despite the Nigerian government’s stated commitment to youth empowerment, critics argue more needs to be done due to rising youth unemployment, insufficient access to quality education and vocation education and vocation training. The promise vs reality

Even though President Tinubu’s address highlighted his administration’s commitment to the youth, especially his administration’s different initiatives and increased investment in education, skills acquisition, and efforts to stabilize the economy.

These ambitions, on the surface, are commendable. Yet for many Nigerian youths, such promises have become familiar tails – echoed by successive governments, but rarely felt at street level.

For many youths, it is a difficult period, the reforms policies of the Tinubu’s administration have led to rise in cost-of -living.

‘It is a difficult period for youth in Nigeria, the current government is not doing enough for youth and they are not sincere,’ Tolu Oshukoyi, a lawyer said.

‘If Tinubu is serious there should be monthly stipends for the unemployed youth and women, that is how it is done abroad. Even the loan scheme, how many people are benefiting and it is enmeshed in corruption. That is why you see all these social vices and terrorism where our youth are lured into.’

Disillusioned with the state of affairs, in the last one-year, Nigerian youth have hit the streets in Lagos and many other states to protest against the current administration policies against the soaring prices of foodstuff and the high cost of living in the country.

The protesters had called for the reversal of the administration’s policies.

In February 2024, scores of youths protested at Ojuelegba part of Lagos State seeking the reversal of the current administration’s policies.

They were singing, and carrying placards with various inscriptions to make their grievances known about the current economic hardship.

‘We are here to protest the anti-liberal governance of Tinubu, the devastating poverty, the removal of fuel subsidy, and the devaluation of the naira.

‘Our people can no longer eat, and they cannot pay for their children to go to school. We need them to provide leadership to ease the suffering,’ one of the protesters had said.

Another youth led protest was held in late 2024 against the current administration style of governance.

Support for Know This Nigeria Network’s (KTNN) Renewed Hope Nationwide Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign is growing by the day, as Festus Adebayo, Founder and Convener of the Africa International Housing Show (AIHS), has also declared support for the initiative.

Adebayo made the declaration during a courtesy visit by the KTNN team to his Housing TV Africa studio in Abuja recently.

He called on stakeholders in the sector to rally around the project, as it is aimed at ensuring their programmes get to the grassroots across the different states of the country where they are needed.

‘The man in Kafanchan needs a home as much as the man in Mbaise. The same thing goes for the man in Kotangora and other parts of the country. If we all just do our thing in Abuja, who will take housing opportunities to these Nigerians at the grassroot,’ he asked, noting that housing is key as it can address poverty and insecurity by creating jobs. ‘So we must be serious about it,’ he advised.

Adebayo noted further that federal housing agencies, including FMBN, FHA, Family Homes Fund, (FHF), Ministry of Finance Incorporated (MOFI), NMRC, and other housing stakeholders, must realise that this is to their benefit and they have to come on board.

‘I have been a voice in the sector for more than 25 years, advocating for affordable housing, and I am glad to be a part of such a project. You have my full support,’ he assured.

In response,Robert Chenge, the project director of the Campaign, described the initiative as a sustainable attempt at addressing the housing crisis in Nigeria by tackling the gaps in both land and housing policy and implementation. ‘One of the components of this campaign is the State Housing Reform Office (SHRO) which we intend to help state governments set up. These offices will have Housing Reform Champions who will serve as a bridge and provide expert-level support in developing policy, programme alignment, and sustainable implementation.

‘We are aware of Adebayo’s pedigree in the sector and his passion for driving affordable homeownership for Nigerians. This is why we are here, and we are glad he has come on board to give impetus to this drive to ensure as many Nigerians that need homes across the nation can get them.

Adebayo is also the founder of the Housing Development Advocacy Network (HDAN) and Chairman of FESADEB Group, owners of Housing TV Africa broadcast and online platforms.

The launch of the campaign is scheduled to be held in Katsina State, which will serve as the template state for the campaign, expected to be held in different parts of the country.

The Renewed Hope Nationwide Homeownership and Housing Development Campaign aims to bridge the gap between federal housing policies and state-level implementation, ensuring that the programmes that support homeownership trickle down to different states. It also seeks to support state governments in aligning their housing programmes to federal housing policies and programmes.

The digital age has gifted us with tools that can process, categorize, and critique information at a scale previously unimaginable. In the realm of literature, film, art, and music, a powerful new figure called the algorithmic critic is emerging.

These AI systems, fueled by machine learning and vast datasets, are not just recommending our next binge-watch. They are beginning to analyze and judge creative works, raising a profound question about the future of the human critic and the nature of artistic judgment itself. It is, therefore, against this premise that the ascent of the algorithmic critic is driven by its most undeniable asset – scale.

Now, imagine an AI tool capable of reading every novel published in a decade. It could analyze the stylistic shifts in film across a continent, or quantify the emotional resonance of a thousand musical compositions in a single afternoon. This is the non-human power of the algorithmic critic, and that is why scholars claim that the algorithmic advantage is hinged on scale and speed.

These systems excel at macro-analysis. They can identify statistically significant patterns, detect subtle shifts in genre conventions, and measure reader engagement with unprecedented precision. For a publisher, a streaming service, or a museum, an algorithm provides a near-objective assessment of a work’s formal structure, thematic commonalities, and potential commercial appeal. As such, it is considered the ultimate tool for efficiency.

This is because an AI tool can quantify the frequency of complex syntax in a novel or the distribution of color palettes in a film. Crucially, it transforms subjective aesthetic qualities into quantifiable data points. It can reveal, for instance, that a critic’s beloved ‘lyrical prose’ correlates strongly with a measurable decline in reader retention after the first chapter.

Furthermore, AI can identify the precise moment an audience collectively loses interest in a scene or when a character arc deviates too far from established successful models. This ability to analyze text at scale moves beyond the capacity of any single human mind and offers a valuable, data-driven perspective on the pure anatomy of a creative work.

While the algorithmic critic offers breathtaking efficiency and objective rigor, it falls profoundly silent when confronted with the core elements of criticism – nuance, cultural insight, and subjectivity. This is where the human critic not only remains relevant but becomes absolutely essential.

An algorithm can process words, but it cannot process meaning in the human sense. It can flag the mention of a political event but will inevitably fail to grasp the subtle, historically laden irony of its context. Art is not created in a vacuum. It is a conversation with the culture, history, and anxieties of its time. The human critic is the necessary interpreter, the one who can contextualize a work within the defining spirit or mood of a particular period. A machine may catalogue 10,000 paintings of a specific era, but only a person can articulate how social upheaval is reflected in the sudden, anxious brushstrokes of a single canvas. Consequently, it is pivotal to consider the role of deep subjectivity. When a human critic writes, for example, ‘This film captures the crushing alienation of modern urban life,’ they are not merely logging plot points. They are engaging their own lived experience, their emotional intelligence, and their personal aesthetic philosophy. Their review is a subjective, yet deeply informed, judgment that resonates with a reader’s own internal world. It is an argument built on empathy and taste, which are core elements that actively defy purely statistical modeling. The critic does not just evaluate quality; rather, they explain why that quality matters to the human heart.

Furthermore, algorithms are inherently built on the past. They identify patterns that have succeeded before, often reinforcing established tastes and commercial orthodoxies. A human critic, conversely, possesses the intellectual courage to champion the radically new, the formally challenging, or the work that deliberately breaks with established patterns. They are the scouts of the avant-garde, the ones who spot the nascent genius that might initially register as an ‘outlier’ or ‘failure’ in a dataset. Their role is to challenge the status quo, which is something a system built on imitation can never authentically do.

The rise of the algorithmic critic should not be viewed as an existential threat to its human counterpart. Instead, it presents a compelling opportunity for collaboration and a refinement of the critical profession.

The most insightful criticism of the future will likely emerge from a powerful synergy between humans and machines. The AI can serve as a powerful research assistant, which provides the macro-data – the measurable proof – that underpins an argument. A human critic, armed with this data, can then dedicate their energy to the elevated work of criticism. This involves crafting the interpretation, illuminating the cultural context, and offering the subjective, impassioned judgment that only a fellow human can provide.

The algorithm can tell us what happened in a text. The critic tells us why it matters. The algorithm can quantify complexity. The critic, rooted in shared human experience, can reveal its soul.

Ultimately, art is a reflection of the human condition. To judge it, one must be capable of experiencing it. The algorithmic critic is a powerful, insightful tool that will undoubtedly accelerate how we assess creative output.

However, the enduring role of the human critic, which is to offer a lens of cultural insight, historical context, and subjective, empathetic nuance, remains irreplaceable.

On September 29, 2025, Africa Magic stepped up its efforts at offering original content for its growing viewership across Nigeria, the continent and the globe.

That day, at an exclusive movie premiere at Filmhouse Cinemas, Landmark MX4D, Oniru, Lagos, Africa Magic unveiled its new content slate premiering next quarter.

The slate includes four new original drama series: The Low Priest (130 episodes); Mother of the Bride (39 episodes); Etiti (26 episodes) and Rise Again, which were unveiled to a select audience including; movie lovers, cast and crew members of the new movies and the media.

Starting with The Low Priest and Mother of the Bride, which both premiered on September 29, 2025 on Africa Magic Showcase, the new original drama series feature diverse storytelling across drama, fantasy, and music-inspired narratives, while reinforcing Africa Magic’s commitment to delivering fresh and engaging African content.

The remaining two; Etiti and Rise Again will premiere on October 2 and 19, 2025, respectively also on Africa Magic Showcase.

The event, which is aptly an exclusive evening with Africa Magic, also was a sort of celebration of the directors of the movies and their creative ingenuity.

From Femi Ogunsanwo, Basketmouth and Unlimited LA, the directors and producers truly lived up to the expectation of Africa Magic that commissioned the movies and the viewers, who have been anticipating their release.

After a long holiday that stretched like an elastic band, Nigeria’s federal lawmakers will finally dust off their agbadas, re-polish their brogues, and head back to Abuja’s red and green chambers.

Yes, dear Nigerians, the National Assembly will be back in session and the city can breathe again as its jolly-jolly lawmakers return from their well-deserved (or so they think) siesta.

It has been over two months since they shut down the hallowed chambers on July 24 for their annual recess.

The rest of the country, meanwhile, trudged along, battling economic hardship, insecurity, and unemployment, among many other challenges. But for our lawmakers, it was time to ‘refresh, recharge, and rejuvenate.’ After all, how can one make laws for 200 million people without the occasional extended holiday?

If democracy were a person, it would have been on hold these past ten weeks, lounging somewhere in a recliner, sipping palm wine, waiting for its caretakers to return.

From the outside, it almost seemed as though nothing was happening on the legislative front. Budgets, constitutional amendments, and petitions gathered dust while the lawmakers were on vacation in Dubai, London, and private resorts across Nigeria.

In fairness, some did spend their break ‘consulting constituents,’ which, in Nigerian political lingo, usually translates to attending weddings, funerals, and thanksgiving services.

Others retreated quietly to their farms or businesses. But many Nigerians suspect that, simply enjoy the soft life that has become synonymous with being a legislator in Africa’s largest democracy.

A Soft Life Legislature

Let us not pretend: Nigeria’s National Assembly is not exactly a boot camp. This is the same parliament where plenary sessions often start late, attendance is spotty, and debates sometimes resemble friendly banter rather than heated legislative scrutiny.

Add to that the generous salaries, allowances, official cars, and endless committee trips, and you begin to understand why Nigerians often describe their lawmakers as the most comfortable public servants in the land.

During recess, stories filtered in of lawmakers spotted at five-star hotels in Abuja, vacationing abroad with their families, or hosting elaborate constituency parties.

And enjoyment, they did, the lawmakers lived the ‘soft life’ while the average Nigerian continued to grapple with harsh realities.

The return parade

Now, as plenary resumes, Abuja will once again witness the familiar spectacle: convoys of tinted SUVs gliding into the National Assembly complex, lawmakers in freshly starched attires waving to cameras, and the business of lawmaking officially kicking off again.

On paper, the agenda is heavy. They must tackle the 2026 budget, vote on constitutional amendments, debate electoral reforms, and push through legislation on local government autonomy. But one cannot ignore the theatre that accompanies their return.

Journalists, staffers, and lobbyists will gather at the chambers to watch who arrives with swagger, who avoids the press, and who is already positioning for the next leadership tussle.

The lawmakers themselves relish the attention. For some, resumption day is almost like the first day of school; a chance to showcase new wardrobes, new alliances, and in some cases, new political hairstyles. Of long breaks and short memories

It is worth remembering that the recess itself is not abnormal. Legislatures across the world take breaks. The difference, however, is in what they leave behind when they pause. For Nigeria’s lawmakers, especially the Senate, recess often feels like an abandonment; critical bills stall, oversight functions weaken, and committees go into hibernation. Take the constitutional review process, for instance. Hearings were held in July, citizens poured out their concerns, and reports were due. Then, suddenly, everything was put on hold for recess. Now, lawmakers will return to hurriedly catch up, as though nothing happened.

One can liken the mode of operation of the lawmakers to that of a student who takes a long break before exams and then tries to read all the notes the night before.

Jolly faces, serious matters

Of course, beneath the satire lies the truth: Nigeria’s challenges are grave, and the legislative agenda awaiting the lawmakers is weighty.

Inflation is biting harder, insecurity has refused to abate, unemployment remains high, and revenue shortfalls threaten governance at every level.

The 2026 budget, which President Bola Tinubu is expected to present soon, will test the Assembly’s seriousness.

So will the push for local government autonomy, a matter the Supreme Court has already spoken on, but which governors continue to resist.

The lawmakers must also revisit electoral reforms, amid widespread calls to strengthen INEC and guarantee credible elections.

But will they? Or will the resumption quickly slip into the usual rhythm of grandstanding, lengthy adjournments, and committee junkets? Nigerians are watching closely.

Behind the scenes, murmurs of discontent over unpaid constituency projects and leadership tussles are growing louder.

There are also whispers of looming defections, with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) poised to strengthen its hold. As one insider remarked, ‘Recess was just the calm before the storm.’

A season of defections

Indeed, resumption day may double as defection day. Already, several lawmakers have quietly perfected plans to switch parties, citing ‘constituency pressure’ or ‘irreconcilable differences’ with their current platforms.

In truth, many simply want to align with the ruling party before constitutional votes and budget debates intensify.

Godswill Akpabio, the Senate president, some days ago promised President Bola Tinubu a gale of defections from governors to the All Progressives Congress. This will definitely not leave lawmakers out like we witnessed in Akwa-Ibom and Delta states. Nigerians’ cynical gaze

For ordinary Nigerians, the return of their lawmakers is met with a mixture of resignation and humour.

As the National Assembly reconvenes, the stakes are high. There are important bills to pass, budgets to scrutinise, and reforms to implement.

But there is also the lingering image of lawmakers as lovers of soft life, more comfortable with recess than rigorous lawmaking.

Perhaps this time, they will surprise Nigerians. Perhaps the ‘jolly-jolly lawmakers’ will exchange their recliners for real legislative grit. Or perhaps, as one cynical observer put it, ‘They will just resume planning the next recess.’

Either way, Abuja will be alive again, and the cameras are ready. The lawmakers will be back, starched and smiling, to remind Nigerians that democracy may go on recess, but never really sleeps.

In a confident tone, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his Independence Day speech celebrated what he described as the tangible fruits of his sweeping economic reforms.

‘Under our leadership, our economy is recovering fast, and the reforms we started over two years ago are delivering tangible results. The second quarter 2025 Gross Domestic Product grew by 4.23%, Nigeria’s fastest pace in four years, and outpaced the 3.4 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Inflation declined to 20.12% in August 2025, the lowest level in three years,’ Tinubu declared.

Since assuming office in May 2023, Tinubu has pursued a bold economic reset, removing the decades-old fuel subsidy, liberalising the foreign exchange market, and laying the groundwork for a new tax regime scheduled to begin in 2026.

Economists have described these moves as ‘bold but painful,’ with many Nigerians struggling to cope with the accompanying hardships.

Yet, as the president trumpeted progress on the economy, a growing chorus insists that Nigeria cannot achieve true transformation on the back of economic reforms alone. Across civil society, opposition circles, and international partners, the consensus is that reforms must extend beyond the marketplace to the very heart of Nigeria’s democracy: its constitution and its elections.

‘Economic reforms without political reforms are unsustainable,’ a reform advocate who doesn’t want to be mentioned told this writer.

‘The government must also reform the political system to ensure rule of law, free and fair elections, and human rights are granted. A reformed political system will complement economic reforms, which will eventually boost investor confidence.’ This argument crystallised at the National Electoral Reforms Summit 2025 last week, where political leaders, reform advocates, and civil society converged virtually under the theme ‘Critical Constitutional Amendments for Credible Elections in 2027.’

‘A government that is perceived as lacking legitimacy will never be effective in governing,’ Pat Utomi, a professor of political economy and leader of thought, said at the Independence Day event.

‘Legitimacy is earned when people believe elections reflect their will. If we do not do everything to ensure free and fair elections, everybody loses, including those who think they have power for the moment.’

Utomi went further, urging international pressure on Nigeria’s political class. ‘We should internationalise this problem to the point that our country could face isolation.’ Oby Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, outlined concrete measures, including INEC’s financial and operational independence, mandatory electronic transmission of results, and stronger prosecutorial powers for electoral offenses.

‘Relying on the police and attorney-general for prosecutions has only rewarded bad behaviour,’ she said.

Her critique extended to what she called ‘courtroom democracy.’ ‘Elections are being decided in court rather than at the polling station,’ she lamented.

‘That destroys the spirit of democracy. We need specialised electoral courts, automated systems for assigning cases to judges, and strict timelines for resolving disputes. Right now, elections have become an industry for the judiciary. For as long as our electoral system is a mess, it continues to destroy lives and futures.’

Peter Obi, who himself contested the last presidential election, wants the system to curb defections.

‘Any politician who jumps party after winning an election should lose his seat,’ he proposed.

‘This is a very critical thing that has to happen before our next election,’ he said. ‘Without a proper electoral system that can guarantee free and fair elections, our democracy will remain fragile.’

These voices inside Nigeria are now joined by pressure from outside. The European Union has urged Nigeria to act fast on reforms ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‘We recognise that there are certain time constraints, both in terms of judicial reform as well as administrative reform, and of course, constitutional reform, which is much more difficult,’ Barry Andrews, member of the European Parliament and chief of the EU Election Observation Follow-up Mission to Nigeria, said during a meeting with INEC last week in Abuja.

‘But we are making all of these recommendations against international standards that the EU and Nigeria and most countries have signed up to. to support democracy, not just here in Nigeria, not just in Africa, but across the world, and in Europe as well.’

For many Nigerians, the tension is clear. On one hand, the president is pushing through market reforms meant to position Africa’s largest economy for future growth. On the other hand, the foundations of democracy, the rules of the game, the fairness of the vote, and the independence of institutions, remain fragile.

The question looming over the country is whether the political will exists to match the momentum in economics with equivalent ambition in governance.

‘Economic growth without democratic legitimacy is a house built on sand,’ the reform advocate said.

Phillips Nto, a university don and agricultural expert, has appealed to President Ahmed Tinubu and governments at all levels to prioritize funding for agriculture to enhance food security.

Nto noted that the call is apt now as preparations for the 2026 budgets get underway.

Nto, who is the director, Agribusiness Incubation Centre (ABIC), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, said that only increased funding of agriculture in the 2026 budgets of all tiers of government would guarantee improved yields, value addition and prosperity for farmers.

While conducting the media around pilot farms of the incubation centre, Nto canvassed for an improved budgetary allocation for agriculture in view of the central role it plays in the development of Nigeria’s economy.

‘Now that Nigeria’s revenue is on the increase, more funds should be invested in agriculture and agribusiness to secure our tomorrow,’ he stressed. Nto, a former commissioner for Finance and Economic Development in Abia State, advocated that the increase in funding agriculture should anchor more on value addition to curb post-harvest losses. According to him, the government should consider providing agricultural subsidies to farmers, while the states should revive the agricultural extension services.

‘Agriculture is an evolving sector that requires continuous training of rural farmers. Reviving the agriculture extension services will help farmers adopt new techniques for improved yield.

‘The Agribusiness Incubation Centres across our universities can easily drive this initiative,’ he noted.

He equally canvassed for the setting up of industrial agricultural hubs in the 774 local government areas in the country to be designed in line with the crops grown in each area as a means of sustainable food security. He noted that such hubs could be jointly funded through an integrated scheme by all tiers of government with the expected increase in food production and value addition.

‘This multi-level collaboration will provide government the first hand guide on the agribusiness that is relevant to the need of the local farmers,’ he submitted.

Nto, who is also the immediate past provost, Abia State College of Education, Technical, Arochukwu, commended the federal government on its tax reforms, which he noted would also impact on the growth of agriculture in the country.

He expressed the hope that whatever the government generates from the new tax laws should be used in funding agriculture, especially in the establishment of the agro industrial hubs in the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

Ruben Amorim has called for more actions from the Manchester United players following the much-needed win against Sunderland.

He made the call after Mason Mount said Manchester United’s players were ‘100-per-cent behind the gaffer.’

Last weekend’s bruising 3-1 loss at Brentford intensified scrutiny on the Portuguese head coach’s position heading into his 50th match at the Old Trafford helm.

United responded well to that setback as a fine Mount opener and first home goal from summer signing Benjamin Sesko secured a 2-0 victory against newly promoted Sunderland.

The result helps alleviate the pressure before the international break on under-fire Amorim.

When the United manager was told about the midfielder’s comment, he said: ‘I saw (that) today and I know they want to do their best – and I know they don’t want to change the coach all the time.

‘We need to show with actions. ‘And sometimes when we look at our team I know for sure that when we see the games in the end they know that sometimes we can do better.

‘So, I feel that during the week but we need to show that on the pitch, not just at home but also away.’

Amorim also issued a bizarre rebuttal that his Manchester United side had picked up momentum from their victory over Sunderland, in their best performance of the season.

‘There is no momentum with our team. We know what happens when we win one game. For me the frustration is not to see the same team at home and away.

‘You saw today, we didn’t play well in the second half. But we were focused, we fought the second balls. Ben [Sesko] was there to touch them all the time. So these small things are going to help us to win games,’ he said.

Amorim made five changes to his Man Utd side from last weekend’s loss at Brentford, including handing summer signing Senne Lammens his debut.

The 23-year-old goalkeeper arrived on deadline day from Antwerp and helped United keep their first clean sheet of the season, producing a couple of important saves and showing confidence between the sticks.