Nigerians sabotaging their own economy with fuel smuggling

Nigerians are sabotaging their own economy through illicit trade, smuggling fuel from Nigeria by sea to neighbour West African countries.

Daily deliveries provide an alternative supply to Togo, Benin, Burkina Faso and Mali. The fuel is sold at up to 30% less than at the licensed pumps.

The sea is delivering a lucrative but illicit trade in Nigerian petrol to West African countries. Legally bought in Nigeria, the fuel is loaded onto boats which sail to Togo under the cover of night.

On a narrow and sandy strait in Togo dozens of men, women and children plunge into the ocean and return with numerous containers which have been towed to shore by swimmers. Fuel is much cheaper in Nigeria compared to its neighbours as the government subsidies its price.

A full barrel can be worth up to $300. Nigeria says the fuel subsidy costs the equivalent of more than $8 billion a year, and attempted to cut it in January, but reversed its decision after a nationwide strike.

Duties from smuggled fuel avoid central government coffers but are paid in tributes to the town chiefs and regional officials controlling these border towns.

MC

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Rashidi Yekini's mother says her son had been suffering from mental illness since 2010

Bereaved mother of erstwhile Super Eagles forward Rashidi Yekini has spoken of the ordeal that eventually killed her son.

Yekini was confirmed dead in his hometown,Irra, Oyun local government in Kwara State on Friday after years of illness.

The mother of the deceased, Alhaja Sikiratu told supersport.com that his son had been battling with mental illness since the year 2010.

The septuagenarian added that several attempts made to take care of the former Super Eagles' striker proved abortive as the deceased claimed he was mentally sound.

"We have been on the problem since 2010 and we tried our best but my son refused to be taken care of. When he came back, we asked him why he has done what he did but he replied by burning all his belongings. I lost my husband in 1978 and Rashidi has been with me since then," she added in tears.

Yekini is the all-time leading scorer for the Nigerian men's team with 37 goals. The Nigerian legend was buried in Islamic rites by 4.30pm (Nigerian time) yesterday in his hometown Irra, Kwara State.

Vanguard

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Nigerian football Legend Rashidi Yekini - Dead at 48

Remembered by many for his exploits at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, Rashidi Yekini will forever have a place in the hearts and minds of Super Eagles and other football fans following Nigeria's first ever goal in the tournament, 

The former Nigeria international passed away on Friday in Ibadan after suffering from mental illness for the past two years.

 

The ex-striker, who was only 48, is Nigeria's all-time record goalscorer after netting 37 times in 58 matches for the Super Eagles.

His body will be taken to Offa to be buried, Yekini's home town in Kwara State.

Born in Kaduna on October 23, 1963, Yekini will be famously remembered for his iconic goal celebration after scoring Nigeria's first-ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria in the 1994 edition of the competition in the USA.

He latched on to a cross from Finidi George to score the first ever goal for Nigeria at the World Cup, prompting Yekini to run into the goal post, grabbing the net, and shaking it endlessly while screaming to the high heavens in celebration of what would be an iconic goal for the country's football.

Yekini began his career at UNTL Kaduna in 1981 before spending the next nine years in his native Africa. Yekini then moved to Europe, where he enjoyed a successful four-year spell at Vitoria Setubal in Portugal where he was the Primeira Liga's top scorer in the 1993-94 season.

He later enjoyed playing in Greece, Spain, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia before eventually calling time on his playing career in 2003 with Nigerian club, Julius Berger.

Yekini made a brief turnaround on his retirement in 2005, when at 41 years old, he joined Gateway United for a short spell.

A player who was a pioneer for Nigerian football in many ways, his time in Europe opened doors for many players that followed behind him, and he was a role model for many, including players who would have been considered among his peers at the time.

Yekini not only scored Nigeria's first World Cup goal, he also become the first Nigerian to win the African Player of the Year award in 1993, providing Super Eagles fans with hope that Nigerian football had much to offer and would be a force on the continent in the year to follow.

He added to that achievement and realised that prophecy of success by helping Nigeria to win the Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994. Yekini scored five goals to win the top scorer award at that tournament, and is the only player to have won the Afcon title as a reigning African Player of the Year ever since.

His record-breaking antics will go down in history at a time when Nigeria enjoyed perhaps their best generation thus far.

Truly one of the greats in Nigerian football, off the pitch he was a quiet man and did little to mirror the great stature and power he commanded on a football field. A goal scorer of great technique and a calm touch in front of goal, Yekini is the kind of player that modern footballers should aspire to emulate.

The man was well respected by the fans, his peers and authorities, and his passing will be mourned by many in Nigeria and around the world.

GOAL

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It's official - Arsenal coming to Nigeria for pre-season match

English Premier League club Arsenal will travel to Nigeria for a pre-season match in Abuja on 5 August. 

According to the organisers, DanJan Sports, Arsenal's opposition are likely to be a leading African national team.

It will be the first time the Gunners have played in Nigeria.

"We are working on the opposition and once that is finalised we will announce it to the public in conjunction with the London club," David Omigie of DanJan Sports said.

"Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, and the club with arguably the biggest fan base in the country is visiting in August."

On their official website Arsenal said: "The club last visited Africa during a tour to South Africa in July 1993, and is returning as a result of the fantastic support which exists for the team, not only in Nigeria, but across the entire continent."

The club traditionally hosts an annual pre-season tournament at the Emirates Stadium, but they opted to postpone the event for a year because of the 2012 London Olympics.

The visit to Nigeria will conclude Arsenal's pre-season tour after playing in both China and Malaysia in July.

In July 2008, DanJan Sports brought two other English clubs,Manchester United and Portsmouth, to the Nigerian capital Abuja for a pre-season friendly.

As well as the match between the two, Portsmouth also played against Nigeria Premier League side Kano Pillars.

But DanJan Sports plan to go a step further this time around.

"We learned a lot from the 2008 tour and this one is going to be bigger," Omigie told BBC Sport.

"Arsene Wenger wanted a detailed plan and information. Facilities and other areas were well covered by the club.

"This is the beginning of big things between the club and the continent of Africa."

According to speculation in the local media Ghana, Zambia, South Africa, Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Egypt are all among the potential opponents for the Gunners.

BBC

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34 killed as gunmen open fire at Cattle market in Potiskum, Nigeria

An attack on a cattle market in northeastern  city of Potiskum by gunmen armed with explosives has left at least 34 dead and the toll is likely to climb, an emergency source said on Thursday.

“Thirty-four bodies were deposited at the hospital,” the official said on condition of anonymity of the attack late Wednesday in Potiskum because he was not authorised to speak publicly.

He said the toll was likely to be more than 50 dead because families were also burying relatives’ bodies without bringing them to the hospital.

A gang of gunmen with explosives have attacked a cattle market in the city of Potiskum, burning it down and leaving a number of people dead, residents and police said Thursday.

The attack late Wednesday was said to be in reprisal for an incident earlier in the day, when the gang sought to rob the market but were fought off by traders who caught one of the attackers, a police source said.

The man who was caught was doused in petrol and a tyre was placed around his neck before he was burnt to death, according to the source and residents.

“There was an attack on Potiskum cattle market yesterday by suspected armed robbers who threw explosives and burnt down the market with all the livestock,” the police official said on condition of anonymity.

“It is too early to say how many people were affected in the attack, which happened at night.”

 Residents reported seeing bodies being taken away, but the number of casualties was unclear.

AFP

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