The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Barca set time frame for Umtiti’s recovery

    Samuel picked up an injury during the international break.

    The defender has a second metatarsal cleft.

    Umtiti will be out for five to six weeks.

    Following the squad announcement for the Valencia clash, the club delivered another update. According to the official announcement from the club, Samuel Umtiti will be out for five to six weeks with a foot injury.

    The defender returned from international duty with a bruised foot. Further updates have revealed that the 25-year-old has a second metatarsal cleft. In human language this means that Umtiti has a split in his bone in the foot. Although not a fracture, the injury is pretty serious.

    (tribuna.com)

  • I was sodomised by multiple inmates, says chef

    They said they will teach me a lesson for being gay. I told them I was not but they did not listen. The first night I was taken to prison, three of the inmates took turns to rape me.

    “I begged them but they refused to leave me. They beat me up with different sticks, injured me and kept making mockery of me.

    “Even the officers at Badagry prison were I was locked up for over two months kept calling me gay. I want justice. I feel wounded and very hurt. I have lost my self-esteem, suffered isolation and depression. I am even afraid of what tomorrow holds.”

    Those were the words of 24-year-old Ayomide Idowu, a Lagos chef, a victim of Nigeria’s dysfunctional criminal justice system. Idowu’s travails began on June 10 when he was arrested by policemen attached to Olodi-Apapa Division while he was returning home from rendering his service as a chef at a private party.

    It was around 11pm and he was in a commercial bus with about 20 others when the policemen stopped the bus and bundled all of them to the station.

    Read Also: Mechanic in Court for allegedly sodomising 13-year-old student

    Idowu told The Nation that he had showed the cops his identity card but they threw it away, and insisted all of them must get to the police station.

    “At the station, they said each person should bring N20,000 for their bail. I told them I have only N5,000. They said I should call my family members to bring the money or they will take me to prison for being gay but I told I didn’t have any family member in Lagos.

    “I honestly did not have the money and so I resigned to fate since I knew I have committed no crime. Those who could paid and were released. We were kept at the police station for three days before they took me to the Mobile Court in Alausa.

    “I was not wearing female clothing. I was properly dressed as a man and I am not gay. I have never been gay. I think the problem is that I have a feminine outlook.

    “At the Court in Alausa, I pleaded not guilty but I was taken to Badagry Prison where I stayed until August 20 when I was discharged and acquitted after an activist took up my case,” Idowu told The Nation yesterday.

    According to him, the ugly experience he had in prison has marred him and he was constantly battling with himself to regain his confidence.

    Asked if he could name any of the inmates who allegedly raped him, Idowu said he never bothered to find out what their names were, adding that he kept to himself almost all through his stay in prison because he was a laughing stock there.

    “The pain was just too much. Two of them were later granted bail and released but one was still in Custody when I was freed. I was never interested in becoming friends and I did not report it out of fear.

    “I am sharing my story now so that young people can learn. Once you go somewhere and it is late, just remain where you are. Do not bother going home so that you do not have the kind of experience I went through.

    “Nobody knew I was in prison. My friend I was squatting with said he was trying my number and could not get me. It was after my release that I shared my experience with him.”

    “The court discharged and acquitted me because there was no evidence from the police. It is very painful for a struggling young man like me to have gone through such an experience. I could not even move about freely inside prison because everyone including the warders would call me gay.

    “It still hurts narrating the experience. I cannot even say everything. I feel so bad each day.”

  • Joshua’s trainer exposes Ruiz ahead of rematch

    Anthony Joshua has been urged by his trainer to remain calm and use his reach to beat Andy Ruiz Jr when both boxers meet again in December 7 in Saudi Arabia.

    Joshua lost all of his world heavyweight belts in shocking fashion in New York in June but will go on a revenge mission in Diriyah.

    Robert McCracken will still be in his corner continuing their long-standing relationship and the pair are already devising a plan to change the outcome.

    Experienced trainer McCracken believes the much taller Brit must use his height and reach advantage and avoid making the same mistakes he made on a humbling night at Madison Square Garden.

    McCracken told TheSportsman.com: “I think the key factor is that Anthony stays calm, doesn’t rush and uses his reach to control Ruiz. In the first fight, he rushed it when he knocked Ruiz down, it’s very clear what he did wrong and he got caught. It’s a lesson learnt and I hope he can put it right in the rematch.

    Read Also: Why Anthony Joshua is scared of Andy Ruiz

    “He’s just going to learn from the fight and prepare diligently. Ruiz is a great fighter, he’s a heavyweight champion and Anthony has got to be at his very best to beat him and win those titles back. He’s aware of that and that’s what he plans to do.”

    Like Joshua, McCracken came in for some criticism after Ruiz stunned the Brit at Madison Square Garden – but he has brushed off suggestions he could be replaced.

    McCracken added: “I think those comments are predictable. You have people in the sport who look at the negatives and you have those who try to make it better and make it work going forward. It’s nothing I care too much about. I and Anthony have a great relationship, he doesn’t just train with me, he trains with a variety of people over the years, but I’m the head coach whilst he wants me to be head coach.”

  • Imama: I knew that Sudan would defend

    The head coach of Nigeria Under 23 team, Imama Amapakabor has stressed that he knew that the defeated Sudanese side would park the bus in order to protect their slim first-leg advantage in the return leg of the 2019 U23 AFCON qualifier played on Tuesday at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.

    The Olympic Eagles slumped to a 1-0 defeat in Omdurman and Amapakabor disclosed that he had to tell his players to resort to the use of the wings to clip the resistant of the Sudanese who all sat at the back in anticipation of a respectable score line which could see them snatch the ticket of the hands of Nigeria just like they did with the Flying Eagles in the build-up to the 2017 U20 AFCON.

    “Before we played against Sudan in Omdurman it was sketchy for me because I had very little information about them,” Imama said. “I only had about two or three of their match tapes that I had to study. I was a bit sceptical because the tapes I had were in Arabic language and translating from Arabic to English was a challenge too.

    “I tried to get one or two persons to help out but it was impossible. I tried to mark faces to whatever tactical formation that i saw them play in the videos I had, unfortunately, loss of concentration in the 43rd minute led to their goal and the game ended 1-0 in their favour.

    “Having studied two of their away games against Kenya and Seychelles, I knew they were going to come sitting a bit deep so we needed to train very well on how to take the balls to the sides and be patient. We waited for the slips to come and we recognised those moments and did the demage.

    “I think the boys responded to what I have been teaching them. It showed from our tactical play. We were patient when they were not coming out when they stayed deep in front of their goal, we waited for them to come out and made use of the space we were able to create.”

  • 2019 World Wrestling Championship: AG champion Emmanuel eyes Olympic ticket

    African Games champion, John Emmanuel believes his mission in Kazakhstan is to return with the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games ticket as he makes his second appearance at the United World Wrestling (UWW)-organised World Championship.

    Wrestlers from 100 countries including Nigeria will converge in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan from September 14 to 22, for medals, but importantly for the tickets to next year’s Olympic Games in Japan.

    The three-time African champion is unfazed about the seeding list saying, “Seeding does not win fight and when we get into the ring, we will test our might.

    “I am heading to Kazakhstan to pick the Olympic ticket as I cannot afford to miss out of the 2020 Games. There is no doubt that the World Championship is where every athlete wants to compete and at this my second outing, I want to make it count.

    I finished 19th at my maiden outing in 2017 because of inexperience but this time, I am in top shape having just returned from the 2019 African Games in Morocco. I am just going there with a mission of picking the Olympic ticket.”

    The first batch of Team Nigeria contingent made up of the five female wrestlers and Coach Purity Akuh is expected to depart Nigeria tomorrow aboard a Turkish Airline.

    The female team is led by silver medalist at the 2018 edition, Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) as well as nine-time African champion, Blessing Oborududu (68kg). Others are Aminat Adeniyi (57kg), Blessing Onyebuchi (76kg) and Mercy Genesis (50kg). The second batch will depart on September 16.

    The top six athletes in each weight category will qualify automatically for the Olympic Games.

  • Ogu lauds Eagles’ great performance

    Super Eagles midfielder John Ogu has applauded his teammates after their impressive 2-2 draw against Ukraine in Dnipro on Tuesday night, stating that the future remains bright for the national team, AOIFootball.com reports.

    The former Hapoel Be’er Sheva midfielder who was overlooked for the match, also hailed the NFF for putting up such a high profile friendly match to help boost the confidence of the players against top European side.

    “Great test game from the team. Kudos to the @thenff for such a Grade A friendly for the @NGSuperEagles. We can only look at the positives in such a game. Above all, I’m really proud of the boys,” Ogu posted after the match.

    Goals from debutant Joe Aribo and another from the penalty spot from inform striker Victor Osimhen put Nigeria 2-0 up but the hosts equalised in what was a crazy 60 seconds with Manchester City’s Oleksandr Zinchenko and Roman Yaremchuk getting the goals.

    The Eagles next fixture will be against neighbours Benin Republic in November when the qualifiers of the 2021 Nations Cup kicks off.

  • Uzoho not at fault for first goal — Rufai

    Omonia of Cyprus star, Francis Uzoho was not at fault for the first goal Nigeria conceded against Ukraine during an international friendly on Tuesday, according to former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai.

    The game which ended 2-2 saw the three-time African champions take a 2-0 lead in the first half but a strong second half fight back saw Manchester City wing-back Oleksandr Zinchenko beat Uzoho at his near post before Roman Yaremchuk levelled scores inside a minute.

    Speaking with SportingLife, Rufai said: ”Nigeria won bronze at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations while Ukraine are currently top of Group B in the Euro 2020 qualifier ahead of Christian Ronaldo’s Portugal.

  • Ngabu’s clash will be exciting — Okolie

    Nigeria-born Lawrence ‘The Sauce’ Okolie is looking forward to facing Belgium’s Yves Ngabu for the European Boxing Union (EBU) European Cruiser Title in London next month.

    Okolie, unbeaten in 13 fights, faces a tough European title challenge in the World Boxing Super Series final at London O2 Arena on October 26 against Ngabu who has 20 straight wins to his credit.

    The fight will be part of the undercard action of Britain’s Josh Taylor defending his World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF), World Boxing Council (WBC) Diamond Super Light-weight titles against American Regis Prograis.

    Read Also;

    Okolie said: “He (Ngabu) speaks very confidently and I am looking forward to the fight. It is going to be very exciting.”

    European champion Ngabu is sure of beating Okolie, adding that while London-born Okolie is a good fighter, he is much stronger than the British and Commonwealth champion.

    He said: “He is a good fighter, but I know where I want to go and I have to get him out of my way. Now I’m just focused on my work and we’re going to see on October 26. I believe I’m stronger than him.”

    Yves Ngabu, 30, beat Tamas Lodi in 2017 to win the vacant EBU European Cruiser Title and has successfully defended it twice, first against Geoffrey Battelo in 2018 and Micki Nielsen early in 2019.

  • Majek Fashek’s illness So long, Too long

    Reggae star Majek Fashek’s woes seem unending. He is in London battling to get money to live a healthy life, writes Dupe Ayinla-Olasunkanmi

     

    Reggae star Majekodunmi Fasheke, aka Majek Fashek, has been in and out of one hospital or rehabilitation centre in recent times. In the past few weeks, he has been hospitalised at Queen’s Hospital, London for a serious illness. He got ill last month and was flown to London on August 24 after a brief admission at St. Nicholas Hospital, Lagos. The singer is said to be in need of about N 2.2 million to cater for feeding, transportation among other expenses.

    His Manager Uzoma Day Omenka confirmed that the singer, who is famous for his Send Down The Rain, told The Nation that: “The condition some days back is different from today. There is a little improvement and he should be able to walk soon. The prayers are also working. It is a very critical sickness since we came in and we have been managing. We have been moving from one hospital to another.

    “I owe a lot in Lagos because I have had to take a lot of undertaking for some of his treatments. We are at Queens Elizabeth Hospital and the treatment is ongoing. Just a little bit of improvement. We need prayers from well-wishers and those who have supported us before now. We are appreciative of all that is being done for Majek.

    “But at this period, we are in dire need of fund and whatever comes in will be used for his health care. A notable Nigerian came to our aid and paid part of the bill. But, we need funds for feeding, clothing, transportation and others. So far, I only have N40, 000, which was sent to us recently. It is not even up to a hundred pounds. That is what I have for now.”

    Omenka went on: “It is a really bad experience and it is really painful. A journey of six hours takes about 24 hours because we didn’t have enough money for tickets.

    “On the day we left Lagos, it was not a good experience. I was so desperate to make sure that he got out of Nigeria that day considering his condition of health. Majek himself did not know where he was. I had to cover him and I was crying. Carrying him in and taking him to the loo several times was not easy. Singer Waje was in the plan, but some people did not know he was Majek.

    Read Also: Majek Fashek’s lingering health challenges

    “When we got to Dubai, he could not walk or eat for three days and was crying. No help. The Uber we took had to stop on the way. That was where the ambulance came to pick us up. We also had a problem with accommodation. The agency that made arrangement for us started having problems with the owner of the apartment.”

    Omenka said when Majek’s case was becoming serious he got his permission to reach out to the public to raise fund.

    Continuing, he said: “We had donors, but not many responses yet. I had to start calling on people individually and that was how the news came and video got to the public.  We really need funds. A lady sent money from Canada which I mentioned earlier. We appreciate all the love showed but we need financial support.”

    His voice on the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians

    He is unhappy about the Nigeria-South Africa crisis. He recalled that he did a song Free Mandela and it helped back then. He pleaded that such song should be played on the Nigerian radio stations at the moment to preach peace and unity.

    Majek said he has done so much for Nigeria and pleaded with the government to ensure that Nigerian embassies across the world protect Nigerians wherever they are.

      Majek the Rainmaker

    Majek Fashek was born on March 7, 1963 in Benin City to an Edo mother and a Yoruba father but identifies with his Benin root. His various translations of his name Fasheke (Ifa-Kii-she-eke) include “high priest who does not lie”, “powers of miracles” and “(system or medium of) divination does not lie”. After his parents separated, Fashek remained in Benin City with his mother and joined the choir in his local Aladura Church and learned to play the trumpet and guitar whilst composing songs for the choir.

    In the early eighties Fashek, who at the time went by the stage name Rajesh Kanal, joined the group Jastix with McRoy Gregg, and was lead singer for Black Rice. They were best known as the in-house band on the show Music Panorama on NTA Benin City and toured with fellow reggae group The Mandators. Jaxstix was also session musicians for upcoming reggae singer Edi Rasta, who would later be known as Evi-Edna Ogholi.

    In 1988, shortly after Jastix disbanded Fashek, who now used the name Majek Fashek, signed with Tabansi Records and began a solo career by releasing the album Prisoner of Conscience and became Nigeria’s top reggae artist after the song Send Down The Rain became the most popular song of the year. In 1989, he won six PMAN awards, which included Song of the Year, Album of the Year, and Reggae Artist of the Year. Fashek’s next album was I&I Experience, which was released in late 1989 under the Tabansi record label.

    After leaving Tabansi Records, he was signed to CBS Nigeria in the early 1990s and released So Long Too Long. In 1990 he was signed to Interscope Records and released the critically acclaimed album Spirit Of Love, produced by “Little Steven” Van Zandt.

    In 1992, he appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in support of his new 1991 album and performed the song So Long Too Long for the television audience. Flame Tree released The Best of Majek Fashek in 1994.

    He was later dropped by Interscope before moving to Mango, a division of Island Records, as it was more accustomed to marketing reggae internationally. His first album for the company included a cover version of Bob Marley’s Redemption Song. He has recorded several albums for various labels since, including Rainmaker for Tuff Gong (1997) and Little Patience for Coral (2004).

    Fashek played a supporting role in the 2000 Nollywood movie Mark of the Beast and starred in a commercial for non-alcoholic beverage Diamant. He recently (2016) performed in a comedy show (with more than ten thousand audiences in attendance) in Lagos, Nigeria, with a roundly power-filled and soul-lifting performance.

    In 2015, it was revealed that Fashek was bankrupt and battling drug addiction. After admitting that he needed help, he was admitted into a drug rehabilitation center in Abuja where he is currently recovering. Majek has since recovered and he is back to making music. In December 2016 Fashek contributed the song “We Are Not Afraid” to a video featuring 200 celebrities to raise funds for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Human Rights Watch (HRW).

    Fashek was married to Rita Fashek who inspired the song Without You; the couple had four children but has since divorced. In 2015, it was revealed that Fashek was bankrupt and battling drug addiction. After admitting that he needed help, he was admitted into a drug rehabilitation centre in Abuja where he recovered.

    Some of his musical works include Prisoner of Conscience that featured multiple award-winning tracks Send Down The Rain (1988), Little Patience, Spirit of Love, I & I Experience, So long too long, Rainmaker, Weep Not Children and Rasta Ganstar.

  • Exciting times as ride-hailing firms scramble for passengers

    Ride-hailing firms are changing the way Lagos State’s ever-growing population moves around the city. From uber to Bolt and now inDriver, things are getting better in the transport sector. The plan to introduce Uber Bus will further disrupt things positively in the sector, writes DAMOLA KOLA-DARE

     

    Segun Kesington goes from one point to the other in Lagos using the services of ride-hailing firm Bolt. Once in a while, he also patronises another hailing service frim, Uber. Kesington, who says Bolt offers cheaper fares, was shocked some days back to discover a new ride-hailing service, which allows him to bargain on how much he wants to pay.

    Unlike Uber and Bolt, inDriver prides itself as the firm that allows passengers to pay the lowest fare. The new service, launched in Lagos a few days ago, says it is in town to end the era of passengers “paying too much!”

    Competition is the rule of the game for ride-hailing firms. Not long ago, Uber introduced a promo service, which allows passengers access to N3,250 on five trips every week. The promo, which can be activated by putting a code on the Uber App, is worth N650 on each trip.

    “Since I discovered the promo, I have been using it from my office to the house. My office is not far from my house. It is usually between N450 and N500. Since I am entitled to N650 on each of the five trips, I have stopped using my car because all I do at night when I close from work is to just call Uber and I am driven home without having to pay kobo.

    Read Also: EdoJobs commences recruitment of Uber riders

    “Last Friday, I took a Uber ride from my house in Ilupeju to GRA Ikeja and when the N650 was deducted I only paid N200. People need to be aware and take advantage of these services,” a regular customer told The Nation.

    Bolt’s response to Uber is to offer 50 per cent rebate on five trips in a week to passengers. What this means, says a customer, is that for a trip of N2000, you pay only N1,000.

    inDriver intends to outsmart the duo. It believes the ride-hailing industry in Nigeria lacks transparency and freedom of choice. Its mission is to fix this.

    To book a ride on inDriver, a passenger has to first enter his location and destination and the amount he is willing to pay. When the ride is requested as it is with Uber and Bolt, drivers close to the location will confirm the order by either accepting the bid or presenting a counterbid.

    The app shows us three different amounts, the rider’s bid and two other amounts with about N200 to N400 difference. The passenger has the option of accepting or rejecting the driver’s counter offer. Unlike Uber and Bolt, inDriver does not have an option to add debit card details so payments are made directly to drivers in cash or bank transfer.

    Uber

    Uber which was founded in March 2009 in San Francisco, U.S, has faced stiff competition from Bolt(formerly Taxify). Both have jostled for the control of the larger chunk of the market. While Bolt has expanded operations to Benin, Ibadan, Owerri, Uyo, Calabar, Port Harcourt and Abuja, Uber only operates in Lagos and Abuja. InDriver, new in the market, operates only in Lagos.

    For those who crave the Uber experience, having a modern smartphone is a must. Through the Uber app, passengers can request for riding services after registering and providing personal details and credit card data.

    Uber is a technology-compliant platform that makes it very easy to connect passengers and drivers in a jiffy through the use of Google Maps. And in some cases, providing a residential address will also help in locating the nearest Uber car. Then, for effective communication, the mobile number of the driver is also supplied as this will make the passenger and the driver relate well. That has proved to be the icing on the cake though other companies have been in the transport business for quite a while.

    There are a variety of rides and each comes with a specific price. Each ride has a particular number of passengers it can take. Mainly, there are two types of Uber rides in Nigeria-the UberSelect and UberX. The latter is cheaper and can accommodate more than three passengers. Also, it is essential to get detailed information about the ride options available and the time it is going to take before it gets to the passenger’s location.

    There is also the choice of payment mode. Passengers who prefer using their credit cards won’t need to pay any driver directly. Payment would have been sorted out on the Uber app. On the other hand, payment can also be made to the driver by cash. It offers such flexibility. Also when you get to your destination, the cost of the trip will be displayed on the driver’s app to enable transparency.

    A businessman, who identified himself as Amos, said the Uber service has assisted him in visiting his customers with ease.

     Bolt

    Bolt, formerly known as Taxify, was founded in August 2013 in Tallinn, Estonia. It has a heavy presence in 33 countries around the world. Just like Uber, its operations are anchored on a mobile application. The application allows people to request a taxi from their smartphones. It is said to offer quality, comfortable and hitch-free rides. Apart from being intolerant to alcohol and drug use, the company also ensures all their drivers undergo a criminal background assessment and personal training. It offers convenience to riders as they can choose any payment mode, be it cash, credit card or mobile carrier billing. When a customer requests a ride, the driver’s name and car details will become visible.

    Abbas Mohammed, who regularly uses the Bolt service, said: “I use it especially when I am late for work. Apart from being very efficient, their drivers are courteous and very polite. It has made transportation very convenient and easy, though the price is determined by your destination. Then, it is stress-free.”

      Uber Bus coming

    If talks go well, Uber plans to help develop a bus system for Lagos. Commuters can buy, book and pay for bus rides using an in-app ticketing service.

    Its representatives have met with transport officials in Lagos, according to Uber’s General Manager for Sub-Saharan Africa Alon Lits.

    Uber Chief Business Officer Brook Entwistle met with Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in June.

    “I think the bus will prove to be a game-changer for Lagos and is very much needed,” Lits said. He added Lagos officials were “excited” by the prospects of partnership. “It is a longer-term engagement but it is something we are willing to do and I think grateful for the willingness on the other side.”

    Last December, the company launched its first bus service in Cairo, which like Lagos is traffic-clogged. Nigeria, South Africa, and Côte d’Ivoire are its new targets.

    While the ride-hailing services have affected the traditional taxis, the Uber Bus is expected to compliment the Bus Rapid Transport, the Lagos smart bus service and deal another blow on the yellow buses, whose drivers are screaming as the noose gets tighter.