The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Naija Super 8: Just the game changer needed

    Naija Super 8: Just the game changer needed

    • By, Sikiru Abolade

    For 10 days last month, the attention of the domestic club football-watching public was fixed on Lagos’ Mobolaji Johnson Arena, venue of the inaugural edition of Naija Super 8, a pre-season tournament. I started following the tournament-on television-from the day the organisers, Flykite Productions, announced it as well as its objective of bringing fans back to stadiums.

    It will be dishonest of me to claim I was persuaded that the tournament’s stated objective was realizable. I actually thought it was halfway house between drunken optimism and pompous nonsense. The problems of domestic club football, responsible for the lukewarm attitude to Naija Super 8, are too well known to bear repeating here. I, however, crave your indulgence to state the one that I think has posed-and still does- the biggest obstacle to rekindling fan interest: squalid officiating levels.

    Everybody with as much as a passing interest in the domestic game is dissatisfied with refereeing standards, which make for predictable outcomes and deny the fans excitement, with corruption being the prime suspect. I am not brave enough to dismiss suspicions of corruption and I think nobody is. However, there are also factors such as lack of work tools. Tools do not eliminate errors, but they make them less frequent.

    A major reason that I think Naija Super 8 succeeded was that it won fan confidence through higher than regular officiating standards right from its qualifying tournament in Eket, which I watched on television. This is not to say that there were no blemishes, but they were few and far between. In any case, it is almost impossible to eliminate controversies around officiating in a sport that generates wildly differing opinions.

    First in Eket and later Lagos, I saw, for the first time in domestic football, referees wearing and using multi-way communication system, which improves evaluation of in-game situations and which I also think will develop refereeing skills. Post-tournament, I also read comments by the organisers hinting at a readiness to, by the next edition of the tournament, bring about the involvement of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), which will be a game-changing support tool. VAR, like the multi-way communication device, will also be a first in domestic football.

    Through Video Match Officials (VMOs), VAR will provide support for referees in potentially outcome-altering situations like goals/infractions that result in goals, penalty decisions/infractions leading to penalty decisions, direct red card situations and mistaken identity.

    The stated desire to introduce VAR speaks to the organizers’ ambition, seriousness and readiness to deal with the dire officiating level, the incubus in the domestic game. Naija Super 8 is a pre-season tournament, not the league. But it has served and seems to be ready to serve more elements that the league structure needs to adopt. VAR will cost money. Lots of it. But where there is a will, there will be a way. If private organisers of a pre-season tournament think fidelity of officiating decisions is important to fans’ trust and are willing to make an investment in that direction, the administrative architecture of the league can have very few excuses.

    Naija Super 8 benefited from top-tier partnership and sponsorship, notably from MultiChoice Nigeria, Hero Lager, MTN, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Pepsi, Custodian Assurance and Moniepoint. These corporates, I believe, must have been assured of the fidelity of match outcomes before they provided resources. They do not seem to me like organisations that will lend their names to choreographed outcomes. The more support of this kind the game’s organisers receive-if they are serious-the brighter the chances of domestic football revival.

    I gave Naija Super 8 no chance, but I am happy to have been disappointed. Being a pre-season, it provided participating clubs the opportunity to see their new signings in action, put players playing domestically in a bigger shop window and swelled the coffers of participating clubs.

    Read Also: Naija Super 8 tourney here to stay, says Alumona

    Tournament winners, Sporting Lagos, earned N25million for their triumph in addition to the N3million per match (a total of N12million) earned in the run-in to the final. There is also the not exactly small benefit of an in increased profile, especially with the Naija Super 8 triumph coming shortly after winning promotion to the elite league division.

    Runners-up, Remo Stars, earned N9 million for playing in the final-in addition to the N3 million per match in the run-up to the final. Akwa United and Lobi Stars scooped N12 million for getting to the semi-finals, while the four other clubs-Katsina United, Yobe Desert Stars, Enyimba International and Rivers United-earned N9million each over three games. All the earnings, as stated in the reports around the tournament, were exclusive of transportation, feeding and accommodation in the two cities. They were separately provided for by the organisers.

    From the start, I think the organisers snared the fans, offering them the chance to determine a hefty percentage of the participating clubs via public voting. I believe that is a first domestically and made fans see themselves as owners of the tournament. They were kept on with a matrimony between football and entertainment, with the latter yielding 21 musical performances by artistes such as Portable, Seyi Vibe, Bella Shmurda, Daddy Showkey, 9ice and Crayon. Those performances had a role to play. But in the long term, higher officiation standards to build trust will sustain the appetite of the fans. VAR, which the organisers appear minded to introduce, will be a big part of that for the tournament and for domestic football in general.

    Abolade writes from Lagos

  • Man sold day-old grand daughter for N700,000, in police custody

    Man sold day-old grand daughter for N700,000, in police custody

    The Oyo State Police Command has apprehended one ‘Monday Chuckwuka’ who allegedly sold his one-day-old grand daughter for N700,000.

    The Police said the suspect was arrested in his hideout in Ibafo area of Ogun State following credible intelligence report.

    Speaking while parading the suspect at the Command Headquaters, Eleyele, Ibadan, the spokesman of the Command, Adewale Osifeso said: “On 10th July, 2023, an actionable intelligence report was received by a team of Police Operatives attached to the Command Monitoring, Oyo State about the ‘’harvesting of a day-old baby girl’’ from her teenage mother identified as Sarah Chukwuka in Oyo town and sale of the girl child to a criminal cartel that operates a baby factory in Abia State.”

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    Osifeso stated that upon intelligence-led interview, Monday, father of the teenage girl who gave birth to the day-old baby girl, confessed to the crime and explained in detail how he took the baby from her mother as soon as she gave birth under the pretext of handing over the baby to someone who would take good care of her.

    Osifeso said: “The suspect further explained in details, how he moved the day old baby to Abia State where he sold her to the owner of a baby factory located at Obehi, Okwa West in Abia State at the rate of sum of Seven Hundred Thousand Naira (N700,000.00).”

    “Investigation activity was extended to Abia State and in the process of a coordinated raid on the baby factory, a female suspect identified as Popoola Bunmi and four other accomplices whose names are Chinwedu Peter, Chidinma Blessing, Chuckwu Christopher, and Favour Chukwu were all apprehended in connection with the criminal activity.”

    The Police spokesman said bundle of new birth certificates and some equipment for baby deliveries were recovered from the factory, adding that the suspects as at the time of apprehension were unable to give any satisfactory explanation about the parentage of the babies recovered from the factory.

    Read Also: Remove your vehicle or risk forfeiture, police warned

    The suspect (Monday) said he decided to sold the baby because he can not afford to take care of his tenage daughter and the baby, saying he used the money he collected after selling the baby to rented a shop and buy good in it.

    The teenage mother (Sarah) said she was not aware that her father wanted to sold the baby, adding that her dad only told her that he wanted to give the baby to someone to nurturing and return the baby after two years.

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    The suspected buyer of the baby, (Favor Chukwuka) said she bought the baby following request from a childless couple (name withheld), saying she was giving N50,000 as her share for the job.

    Other suspects arrested by the Command include armed robbers, secret cult members with dangerous weapons, hoodlums who specialised in stealing cars, and notorious criminal receivers among others

  • US adds Lagos, Rivers, five others to CYFI programme

    US adds Lagos, Rivers, five others to CYFI programme

    The United States has expanded the Carrington Youth Fellowship Initiative (CYFI) of its Consulate in Lagos to eight more states.

    The additional States are Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, Osun, Rivers and Enugu.

    The Consulate made the disclosure at the graduation of the 50 latest fellows from CYFI’s 2023 cohort.

    CYFI is named after former U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Walter Carrington, who was an advocate for civil rights, democracy and stronger ties between the United States and Nigeria.

    Since its inception, over 278 outstanding young Nigerians who are positively impacting Nigerian society have graduated from CYFI.

    They have gone on to become entrepreneurs, innovators, activists, and agents of social change.

    The Consulate, in a statement, said CYFI is proud to have contributed to their success and looks forward to seeing the impact of the next generation of leaders.

    The ceremony showcased the exceptional achievements and growth of the young leaders who, according to the statement, have undergone an immersive and transformative experience that has equipped them with the skills, knowledge, and network to drive positive change in their communities.

    U.S. Consul-General Will Stevens encouraged the graduating CYFI fellows to continue to implement programs that foster economic growth, enhance democratic governance, and champion civil liberties.

    “Today, we celebrate not just the end of a program, but the beginning of a new chapter for these young leaders. The Carrington Youth Fellowship has provided them with the skills to become change-makers and advocates for progress,” Consul-General Stevens said.

    “Their passion and dedication are a testament to the potential of youth to shape our world for the better.”

    Exceptional fellows were recognized for their dedication, creativity, and resilience in tackling pressing challenges focused on civil liberties, economic empowerment, education, and health.

    Their projects spanned a wide range of sectors, demonstrating the breadth of their commitment to building a sustainable future for their communities.

    Read Also: Project Alafia gets CYFI’s best team award

    At the event attended by CYFI program partners as well as Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Toyin Oke-Osanyintolu, 65 new fellows were inducted into the 2024 cohort of the intensive one-year program.

    While inducting the 2024 cohort, Consul-General Stevens said, “As the torch of service and leadership is passed on to you, remember that the journey ahead is challenging. But as we’ve seen from our graduating fellows, it is also filled with extraordinary possibilities.”

    The Carrington Youth Fellowship Alumni Network explained that the expansion of the program to eight more states was with support from partners such as Kensington Adebukunola Adebutu Foundation, Access Bank and LEAP Africa.

    The Carrington Youth Fellowship, a dynamic youth-based initiative launched by the U.S. Consulate General in Lagos in 2011, aims to nurture a network of accomplished young Nigerians who are committed to making positive change in their communities.

  • Messi scores eighth goal in five matches for Miami

    Messi scores eighth goal in five matches for Miami

    Lionel Messi scored his eighth goal in five games for new club Inter Miami as the side beat Charlotte 4-0 in the Leagues Cup quarter-finals.

    The World Cup winner with Argentina was having a quiet game in Florida before scoring Miami’s fourth goal on 86 minutes.

    Miami were winless in 11 games but have now won five in a row since the 36-year-old arrived in July.

    They will face Philadelphia Union in the semi-finals on Tuesday.

    Miami took the lead in the 12th minute through a Josef Martinez penalty and doubled their advantage in the first half when Robert Taylor put away a low cross from DeAndre Yedlin.

    Charlotte fell behind further after the break when Diego Gomez’s cross looking for Messi was turned into his own net by defender Adilson Malanda.

    Read Also: Messi hits brace as Inter Miami reach Leagues Cup quarter-finals

    The former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward then added to Miami’s comfortable win with a simple finish after good work from Ecuador striker Leonardo Campana.

    After a dramatic last-16 tie with FC Dallas which ended 4-4, with Miami progressing through penalties, manager Gerardo Martino was happy his side was able to keep a clean sheet.

    “We kept control of the ball for longer spells and I think there was only one clear chance from the opponent,” said the former Barca and Argentina boss.

    “Other than that I think we didn’t suffer defensively,” he said.

    BBC 

  • GOMERM 24th power conference holds Aug 14

    GOMERM 24th power conference holds Aug 14

    God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM) is set to begin its 24th Annual Power Conference in Lagos from August 14th to 20th.

    The weeklong conference with the theme “THE UNLIMITED GOD: From Minimum to Maximum” holds at the Mercy Revival Centre, at 25/33 Alake Lakoko Street, Ileepo Bus Stop, Ikotun, Lagos. 

    The conference features a “Building the Builders International Ministers Conference” during which pastors and church leaders from different denominations will gather for special seminars by 2:30pm every day while revival services start by 5:30pm. Aside from a youth conference which is also part of the weeklong celebrations, an Impartation service will wrap up the conference on August 20 by 9am.

    According to a statement by GOMERM’s Director of Public Relations, Pastor Femi Kolawole, anointed men of God who will minister at the convention include Dr. James Akanbi, GOMERM’s General Overseer; Pastor J.F. Odesola, Continental Overseer at the Redeemed Christian Church of God; Archbishop Osa-Oni, Presiding Prelate, Vineyard Christian Ministries; and Bishop Abraham Olaleye, General Overseer, The Pentecostal Congregation.

    Read Also: Osa-Oni, Odesola, Akin John, others for GOMERM’S ZION 2023

    Others include Reverend Samson Ajetomobi, President/Founder, Men of Issachar Vision; Pastor John Oluwadare, General Superintendent, Christ Redemption Bible Church; Reverend David Amosun, Senior Pastor, Victory Tabernacle Church; and Dr. Francis Bola Akin John, President, International Church Growth Ministry (ICGM) among others.

    “As a ministry, the power conference is an opportunity to thank God for his faithfulness to us in GOMERM since the church was founded in 1999. We also believe that God will be revealing Himself in His unlimited dimension and is set to reverse irreversible cases in the lives of people and enlarge everyone during the conference,” Pastor Kolawole said.

  • Ekpa raises the alarm over Kanu’s health

    Ekpa raises the alarm over Kanu’s health

    Pro-separatist agitator and Finland-based lawyer, Simon Ekpa, has raised the alarm that the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu is in critical condition.

    Kanu has been in detention in the facility of DSS since he was arrested in June 2021 in Kenya and renditioned to Nigeria to face trial for treasonable felony despite the Court of Appeal freeing the IPOB leader from terrorism and treasonable felony charges last year.

    Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple of Kanu, said Kanu’s health was deteriorating, stressing that he may die in DSS detention if nothing was done urgently.

    Read Also: Ekpa warns NLC over strike in Southeast

    He vowed that those involved would not go unpunished if anything should happen to Kanu.

    He tweeted on Saturday morning “ Mazi Nnamdi Kanu is very sick and may die in DSS if nothing is done or not released soon. I wish to inform Biafrans that Onyendu is very sick right now. He is in the worst state ever. If MNK dies in DSS let them know that none of those involved in this crime will be free.”

  • Three die, scores injured in Anambra drivers, revenue collectors’ clash

    Three die, scores injured in Anambra drivers, revenue collectors’ clash

    Three drivers died  and several passengers were injured within ten days following clashes between operators of commercial vehicles and new revenue enforcement team in Anambra state.

    The drivers accused the enforcement team of extorting money from them at gun point using persons suspected to be members of the Anambra Vigilante Services (AVS).

    Addressing reporters in Onitsha, Chairman, Anambra Joint Transporters Forum, Prince Moses Ohanebo, regretted members’ continued harassment and extortion despite payment of mandatory taxes.

    He said: “Despite payment of the mandatory taxes by our members, the revenue team has continued to obtain more money from us even when receipt of payment has been presented to the team.

    “We are not happy with their operations. They have been harassing our members, locking them up in Black Maria truck and detaining them at the cells with payment of up to N20,000 to secure bail.

    “So far, three of our drivers have died due to their operations. At Okoh, Orumba North local government area, they chased one of the drivers conveying passengers and the bus somersaulted leading to death of the driver and many of the passengers sustained various degrees of injury.

    “One just sold his land to put his vehicle in order and on the first day he came out, his vehicle was seized because he has not paid his tax but for about three months he has not been on the road and due to that frustration he gave up the ghost.

    “Another one ran into an accident when he was being chased by the revenue team who went after him with guns and matchetes.”

    Read Also: Bus fleeing from tax collectors somersaults, injures seven in Anambra

    Assistant Secretary, Innocent Obagha, accused the enforcement team of heavy and double taxation, just as he alleged introduction of emblem with over ten different types of taxes at motor parks, contrary to Soludo’s directives that they would not pay any more taxes and levies. 

    While urging Soludo to checkmate activities of the team, Obagha appealed for daily payments, insisting that monthly payment was difficult for them.

    “The worst of it all is that even if you have not been on the road for a week or a month you are expected to pay that money with an unofficial penalty of N10,000.00 or N20,000.00 as the case may be,” he noted.

    He also urged government to allow them collect the revenue and remit same to government coffers instead of making use of touts.

  • Cage fight with Zuckerberg holds at ‘epic location’ – Elon Musk

    Cage fight with Zuckerberg holds at ‘epic location’ – Elon Musk

    Billionaire Tech boss, Elon Musk, has spoken on the location for his anticipated cage fight with his rival, Mark Zuckerberg.

    In a tweet via his app ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Musk confirmed he concluded talks with the Prime Minister and Minister of Culture of Italy and they agreed on an ‘epic location’ for the match.

    Though he didn’t stipulate the date for the cage fight, he however, reiterated it would be live-streamed on X including Meta platforms; and veterans would receive the proceed from it.

    As for the fight’s management, the CEO and product architect of Tesla noted it’d not be handled by UFC but by his and Zuckerberg’s foundations.

    He wrote: “The fight will be managed by my and Zuck’s foundations (not UFC).

    “Livestream will be on this platform and Meta. Everything in camera frame will be ancient Rome, so nothing modern at all.

    Read Also: Elon Musk begins payment of Nigerian influencers, creators

    “I spoke to the PM of Italy and Minister of Culture. They have agreed on an epic location.

    “Everything done will pay respect to the past and present of Italy

    “And all proceeds go to veterans.”

    The cage fight brouhaha between the tech rivals began in June when Musk dared Zuckerberg to square off after got knowledge of the latter readying a rival (Threads which was launched a few weeks ago) to his social media site. 

    The next day, the Meta CEO accepted the challenge urging Elon to ‘send him the location’.

  • YOTSI launches “FUND-YES” to support youths, women entrepreneurs

    YOTSI launches “FUND-YES” to support youths, women entrepreneurs

    The Youth off the Street Initiative (YOTSI) founded by Comrade Kennedy Iyere, a humanitarian activist and social entrepreneur, has launched a business financing intervention programme for the support of youth and women entrepreneurs in Africa.

    The business financing scheme known as “FUND-YES” recently launched in Abuja is in partnership with Fidelity Bank and other corporate bodies.

    Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Comrade Iyere said even with their degrees, millions of youths have remained unemployed for lack of job opportunities.

    “The right way to avert this looming disaster is to create economic and job opportunities for youths and women but under the current economic circumstances, entrepreneurship remains the only option available.”

     He affirmed that the youths and women of Nigeria are very hardworking people, who if supported with funds, will turn themselves into successful entrepreneurs, he added that the need to offer such assistance, is the key factor which inspired and propelled him to establish “FUND-YES”.

    According to Iyere, “FUND-YES” is a joint business financing programme and enterprise development fund for youths and women in need of funding assistance to enable themselves to start up a micro or small business, or to scale-up and grow their existing micro and small businesses into a medium-sized enterprise.

    ““FUND-YES” will provide flexible business financing opportunities for youths and women to engage themselves in various entrepreneurships and become owners of their own businesses and creators of their own jobs.

    He added that “entrepreneurship” is the panacea for Nigeria’s chronic youth unemployment, high youth crime, as well as the security risks that are associated with these factors.

    Read Also: Afenifere, PANDEF, Ohaneze, others demand new Constitution

     “It is a multifaceted business financing scheme, anchored by Youths Off The Street Initiative (YOTSI), in response to the need to lift millions of youths and women out of unemployment and poverty with a view to mitigating youth crime and helping  women to reinforce household economic security, as many women are being empowered to make money to support their families.

    Ndandok Limaro Thomas, the first beneficiary of “FUND-YES” received an enterprise grant of ONE MILLION NAIRA (N1,000,000) from Comrade Kennedy Iyere, which was paid into her account opened with Fidelity Bank for the purpose of enhancing her entrepreneurial success.

    She is from Jaba Local Government of Kaduna State, currently undergoing apprenticeship in Carpentry (training to become a Carpenter). She is a graduate of Mass Communication from the University of Jos (UNIJOS). Known for its strong support for MSMEs.

    Iyere assured that “FUND-YES” will support her with TEN MILLION NAIRA (N10,000,000) once she has completed her apprenticeship within the next Six Months.

  • Doyin exposes BBNaijaAllStars housemates to CeeC

    Doyin exposes BBNaijaAllStars housemates to CeeC

    Big Brother Naija housemate, Doyin David has revealed Whitemoney and Cross’s hidden conversation to CeeC.

    Opening up to her co-housemate CeeC in the garden, Doyin disclosed the plan by the two housemates who have planned to ensure she is ignored all through her stay in the house. 

    Adding that she told them that she wouldn’t do so, Doyin said: “That’s why I came to meet you, I knew you didn’t know. There are literally people going around saying, everyone alienates Cee-C. No one should talk to her except it is a task”.  

    Cee-C didn’t seem surprised by the news, stating that she has made up her mind not to feel anything in the house. 

    She went on to say that Whitemoney is only following Cross’ moves and their plans would definitely backfire on them based on her experiences in her previous season.

    Read Also: BBNaija’s parrot exposes Doyin, calls Kiddwaya ‘fat idiot’

    “He is going to leave the house. When you conspire, people are watching the show and they are human beings. Someone has done this before and went from being a possible winner. When I came out and that was the reason people were saying they stopped liking him, in this life don’t treat anyone bad,” she said.

    Cee-C and Doyin’s friendship seems to be waxing strong with them looking out for each other even when the other person is not there.

    They have emulated the habit of always relaying gossips about them to each other from other housemates. 

    They seem to be building some level of trust following the fight with Ilebaye.