Clinical Japan beat Nigeria 3-1 in the final Group C women’s football event at the Paris Olympics to send the African giants home, The PUNCH reports.

First-half goals from Maika Hamano, Mina Tanaka, and Hikaru Kitagawa ensured that Futoshi Ikeda’s ladies finished second in the group to book a place in the quarter-finals of the tournament at the expense of Nigeria.

Randy Waldrum kept faith in the side that lost 1-0 to Spain in their second game, with Chiamaka Nnadozie starting in goal for the Falcons while Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Chidinma Okeke, and Osinachi Ohale played in defence.

The duo Christy Ucheibe and Deborah Abiodun played in the pivot positions with Jennifer Echegini, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Toni Payne in midfield, while Asisat Oshoala played in the attack.

From the sound of the whistle, the Falcons ceded possession to their opponents, allowing the 2011 Women’s World Cup winners to dictate play.

Mina Tanaka tested Nnadozie in the 6th minute, but the goalkeeper comfortably saved the half-volley shot from the winger.

There was a scary moment for the Falcons in the 16th minute as the Asians had a glorious chance to score the opener, but the shot was well blocked by Ohale. 

Four minutes later, Japan took advantage of a poor defensive, with their pressure eventually paying off in the 22nd minute as Maika Hamano Cooly finished off a fine pass from Riko Ueki, who beat Nigeria’s offside trap.

Futoshi Ikeda’s side continued to dominate possession and almost got the second goal three minutes after scoring the opener.

Ten minutes after breaking the deadlock, the Japanese got the second goal as Mina Tanaka was the quickest to react to a Ueki fine header that hit the crossbar.

There was a shout for a handball in the 34th minute after Ajibade’s fine cross hit the hand of Rion Ishikawa, but the referee allowed play to continue to the disappointment of the Falcons.

The Falcons began to take control of possession and were rewarded for their effort in the 42nd minute. Following a neat exchange of passes between Abidoun and Echegini, the Paris Saint-Germain midfielder rifled a shot into the top corner to beat Ayaka Yamashita and get Nigeria back into the game.

However, five minutes into the additional time of the first 45 minutes, left-back Hikaru Kitagawa ended any hope of a comeback for Nigeria as her curly shot from the set piece beat Nnadozie to restore the Asian two-goal lead.

Just two minutes into the second half, Echegini almost got the second goal for Nigeria. The midfielder drifted in from the left blank, but her shot was headed out by the Japanese defender.

In the 54th minute, Venezuela referee Emikar Calderas awarded Japan a penalty after Ajibade was adjudged to have committed a foul in the penalty box, but the decision was overruled by the VAR.

The Falcons threw everything in their arsenal at the Asians, hoping to get back in the game, but they were unable to beat their opponent’s defence for the second time.

With the clock ticking down, the 11-time Africa champions went all out in search of a consolation goal but wasted several chances to find the back of the net.

The defeat means the Falcons are out of the tournament after losing all their three group games to finish bottom of Group C with zero points.

The All Progressives Congress (APC), Spain chapter, has urged organisers of the proposed nationwide protest to be patient with President Bola Tinubu rather than plunge Nigeria into anarchy with the planned demonstration.

The organising secretary of the chapter, Julius Fayemi, in a statement on Wednesday, urged Nigerian youths to disregard anyone calling for protest in the country.

Mr Fayemi, however, said that no one was disputing the right to protest in any democratic society to remind the ruling party that “power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

“Nigerians should be patient and dialogue; this is not the time to put the state into anarchy.

“If any analyst is telling the ‘Gen Z’ and the Millennium generations to protest peacefully without being hijacked by hoodlums, it is a lie from the pit of hell.

“If we review the list of protests in Nigeria in the era of colonial rule to date, can anyone point out and tell the world which protest ended peacefully?” he said.

He highlighted some protests that had left sour tastes in the mouth, including the Aba riot against taxation imposed by the colonial government in 1929 and the Egba women’s riot in the Palace of Oba Ladapo Ademola II in 1947.

He also listed the “Ali Must Go” riot against Segun Okeowo and Ahmadu Ali because of increments of 50 kobo school fees in 1978 and the protest against Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) organised by the National Union of Nigeria Students in 1989.

“We all witnessed the protest in Nigeria against the annulment of the election by the military regime in 1993 and that of the removal of fuel subsidy by former President Goodluck Jonathan in 2012.

“#EndSars 2020 is still in our memory. If any politician comes on any social media or platforms where youth should protest instead of dialogue, he or she is playing to the gallery.

“In all these protests, there was none that ended without claiming lives and properties.

“When the chips are down, the bourgeois and the privileged will leave the shore of Nigeria for safety.”

According to him, Nigeria must discourage and disregard the jingle of protest and join hands to move the country forward.

The APC chieftain said that Nigeria must cherish its unbroken 25 years of democracy, saying, “worst of civilian government is better than the best military.”

“Let’s allow this government to correct the mistakes of their predecessors. After all, hardship did not start today. Allow Mr President to focus and diagnose the problem, and a solution is around the corner.

“No government is perfect; one year may not be enough for the Tinubu administration to correct and change Nigeria. We are not ready to repeat the #EndSars protest,” he said.

Mr Fayemi, however, urged the government to talk to the youth and not talk at the youth, saying the problems facing the country were accumulated and not created by Mr Tinubu.

“Democracy is about dialogue. Nobody is saying protest is not part of democracy, but it should not be political.

“We know that the demands of the protesters are legitimate, but give the current government time to correct the anomalies.

“Give this regime time to ameliorate the suffering of the people because the agitation goes beyond the administration,” he said.

There have been so many controversies around some youth groups planning a nationwide protest from August 1 to 10 to demand the government’s solutions to rising costs of living and economic hardship.

(NAN)

The Nigeria Labour Congress, on Wednesday, threatened a showdown as the Governor of Gombe State, Muhammad Yahaya, declared that the state would not be able to pay the N70,000  new minimum wage.

President Bola Tinubu signed the new minimum wage bill into law on Monday, making N70,000 payment mandatory.

But the Gombe governor, while speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting on Tuesday at the state Government House in Gombe, said, “I cannot pay the N70,000 minimum wage, and I suspect many other states are in the same predicament.”

In an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday, the NLC Secretary in Gombe State, Ibrahim Fika, said the declaration by the Gombe governor, who is also the Chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum, was a recipe for renewed struggle by organised labour.

The NLC scribe said, “The governor has said his mind before us. We are anticipating the table of the national headquarters for the adjustment; from there we will start our own struggle because as we all know, the new minimum wage is now a law after passing through scrutiny in the legislature and getting the presidential assent.

“We don’t see the reason why a governor will say he can’t afford to pay N70,000. We are expecting governors to pay more than that, not less. We will do our possible best to see that Gombe enjoys the new minimum wage by God’s grace.”

THE Senate has asked Nigerians and promoters of the nationwide protests to halt their plans in the interest of the country.

According to the Senate, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has, within one year in office, initiated policies that would benefit Nigerians in the near future.

Speaking after an executive session that lasted close to two hours yesterday, President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the Senate, having reviewed the situation, with  regards to the nationwide protests slated today, is urging those warming up for the action  to shelve their plan.

Akpabio had on Sunday summoned an emergency session of the upper legislative chambers, ahead of the nationwide protest.

Meanwhile, there was a  heavy security presence in and around the National Assembly complex in Abuja yesterday, as lawmakers held an emergency plenary.

Contrary to the usual practice, the Sergeant-at-arms,  barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly, with strict adherence to the provision of  identification cards for entry at the Mopol gate.

Policemen in their numbers, hovered around the entrance of the National Assembly with their guns.

The  heightened security, it was gathered, was allegedly intended to prevent protesters from gathering at the venue.

According to the President of the Senate, initiatives such as the signing of the national minimum wage bill into law, establishment of the North West and South East Development Commissions, granting of local government autonomy, among others, will reduce hunger and poverty in the country. 

He said the various bills passed by the National Assembly would also help in resolving the economic challenges bedeviling the country.

Akpabio said:  “The senate in a closed session, deliberated on issues bothering on the workings of the Senate in particular and the national assembly in general.

“The Senate particularly reviewed the current situation as regards the impending protest set to be slated for tomorrow August 1.

“This protest is slated for tomorrow, the 30th of August, 2024 and I kindly urge you that one year is not long enough for the policies being implemented by the current administration of President Asuwajibola Bola Tunibu to yield the desired results.

“The Senate urges the protesters to give the government more time to address their demands, considering the measures being put in place to ameliorate the situation in the country, such as the National Minimum Wage Act, the sale of crude oil to local refiners in naira, the implementation of Students Loan Act, the assent recently granted to the Southeast Development Commission and the Northwest Development Commission, bills passed by the National Assembly to further address developments at the grassroots. 

“The Senate, and in fact the entire National Assembly, is willing to legislate on all matters that will bring succour to Nigerians in general.”

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba on Wednesday said the party has secured police permit to march in all the 196 political wards of the state against the nationwide protest.

He made this known during an interaction with journalists at the APC Secretariat in Calabar.

Eba said he will lead the APC members to move about in designated routes in Calabar for 14 days.

According to him, other party officials and registered members will engage in similar marches in their different local government and wards as from August 1st.

“We are embarking on solidarity march in support of Mr President’s and our amiable state governor’s feats in office which altogether changed the backward strides and charted positive and progressive dividends for Nigerians.

“Those that may be misguided, the security agencies will handle and lead them to psychiatric and other confined homes,” he said.

The Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, said the major concern of President Bola Ahmed ahead of the planned August 1, 2024, hardship protest is how to safeguard the gains of his government in the past 15 months.

Edun disclosed this on Wednesday during a press briefing in Abuja.

According to him, the president desires that protests be peaceful so that Nigeria’s economic recovery momentum will not be dislodged. 

Edun noted that Tinubu understands the concerns of Nigerians and is working round the clock to proffer lasting solutions.

“He is concerned that the protests will remain peaceful and orderly, such that the gains that have been made over the past 12 to 15 months should not be dissipated. The momentum that has been achieved in the Nigerian economy should not be dislodged, disturbed or dissipated.

“I think, amongst many other well-meaning Nigerians, the President truly understands the concerns that are being expressed, particularly the high and limited cost of living, which is not beneficial to Nigeria at this stage,” he said.

The minister commented barely hours before the planned August 1 protest nationwide.

Justice Sylvanus Oriji of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, has issued an ex-parte order, restricting Abuja protesters to the National Stadium otherwise known as the MKO Abiola stadium.

The order followed an application that was brought before the court by the Minister of the FCT, Mr. Nyesom Wike.

The scheduled nationwide protest against economic hardship in the country is slated to commence tomorrow..

In the ex-parte application that was moved by Chief Ogwu Onoja, SAN, the FCT Minister, prayed the court for an order of interim injunction restraining the five leaders of the protesting groups from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, streets, offices and public premises within the FCT between August 1 to August 10, or any other day thereafter, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

He equally applied for order of interim injunction mandating security agencies to prevent the protesting leaders from gathering or parading themselves along any roadway, offices or public premises within the FCT between August 1 and 10, pending the determination of the suit.

Insisting that the Federal Government was not opposed to the planned protest, the FCT Minister told the court that intelligence and security reports reaching him indicated that some elements within the leadership of the protesters were planning to capitalize on the protest to cause havoc and irreparable damages to public facilities and to also block roadways to prevent movement of persons and vehicles and disturb public peace.

He claimed that when he contacted the security agencies to ensure that the planned protest will not degenerate into criminality and disturbance of public peace and order, he was told that they are not well equipped to manage any crisis that may arise from the planned protest at a short notice.

The Minister tendered an exhibit from the “Take it Back Movement, FCT,” signed by one Damilare Adenola, in which they threatened to invade the Presidential Villa and also threatened to pull down the outer wires facing the Aso Rock villa during the protest

The said exhibit further indicated that the organisers demanded that they should be provided with light as well as toilet during the duration of the protest.

After he had listened to the Applicant, Justice Oriji, while acknowledging the right of individuals to embark on the protest, however restricted them to the Stadium in view of the fears expressed by the minister.

“In the light of the above, the court considers it appropriate and expedient to grant an order under the omnibus or general prayer to ensure that the rights of the protesters are guaranteed and that the protest does not negatively or adversely affect the rights of other citizens to move about and to ensure that that properties and other public facilities are not destroyed,” the judge held.

He, therefore, ordered the 1st to 5th respondents to “use the Moshood Abiola Stadium” only for the protest.

More so, the court ordered the service of processes in the suit as well as the confinement order on the respondents by placing same on the newspapers.

Cited as 1st to 12th Defendants in the suit, are; Omoyele Sowore, Damilare Adenola, Adama Ukpabi, Tosin Harsogba, persons unknown, Inspector General IG of Police, Commissioner of Police, Director General of the State Security Service, Director General, Nigeria Civil Defense Corps, Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Air staff and the Chief of Naval Staff.

Ahead of the planned nationwide protest scheduled to begin on August 1, the Organised Civil Society has issued guidelines to protesters to ensure the success of the protest against hunger and hardship in the country.

The guidelines, according to a statement signed by the Head, Coordinating Secretariat of the United Action Front of Civil Society, Olawale Okunniyi on Wednesday, followed a meeting with the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun.

The group urged protesters to be civil and orderly, and not allow anyone to provoke or distract them, from the agenda of the protest. They also urged protesters to record with their phones in the event of any external aggression and send such recordings to the Civil Society Situation Room on Protests Ethics Monitoring.

Okunniyi also implored protesters not to go to the venues of the protests with sharp objects or weapons as any such person will be handed over to security agents.

The statement read in part, “Citizens participating in the protest rallies and processions are advised to be civil, orderly and focused and not allow anybody or forces to provoke or distract them from the agenda and goal of the protest, which is to compel government to end Hunger and Hardships in the country

“Protesters should endeavour to come out with their small pack of bottle of water and snacks if possible and should be smartly dressed. Protesters are advised not to come to protest ground with sharp, hard and violent objects or weapons as anybody seen with such objects and weapons shall be apprehended and handed over to security agents or protest monitoring team for prosecution.

“For help and support during the nationwide protests, citizens are enjoined to contact protest monitors at the situation room of the organised Civil Society via WhatsApp of the following hotlines: +23481-884-51511, +234 814 286 4904,+234 703 504 6101, +234 803 582 3617. Please note that the above hotlines are for WhatsApp messages only”.

The group also urged the government and its agents to “demobilise and caution those being recruited to threaten and intimidate peaceful Protesters to desist to avoid unnecessary clash and battle in the interest of peace and stability of Nigeria.”

He added that any such sponsored mobilisation against the protesters will “may lead to another unwanted riot in the mode of #EndSars debacle in Nigeria.”

The first lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has urged Nigerians, particularly youths, to be patient with the present administration as it works earnestly to ensure that things get better.

The first lady gave the advice in the State House on Wednesday during an interview with journalists on the planned nationwide hunger protest by some youths.

“I appeal to the youths to be patient, we did not come to the state house to play, we are here to work because I know we will leave this place one day.

“The government has been working day and night to make sure that our country is put back on its feet.

“The respect we have now as Nigerians in the international community is higher than what we had in the past.

“People now want to do business with Nigerians legitimately and that will create jobs. Therefore, our youths should try and engage themselves, be creative and do more,” she said

The first lady said Lagos state was yet to recover from the impact of #EndSars protest, and it saddened the hearts.

“When people beat drums for protest, they may not know the backlash and what will happen after.

“That is why we are appealing to the youths to restrain from the planned protest, give peace a chance and embrace dialogue,” she said

(NAN)

Governor Abba Yusuf of Kano has thrown his weight behind the #EndBadGovernance protest over the heightened cost of living crisis under President Bola Tinubu’s watch, adding that he is ready to join the protests because it is the democratic right of citizens.

“For us, protest is a democratic right of every citizen. I want the protesters to carry out their procession with caution, as some criminal elements plan to hijack the protest,” Mr Yusuf said.

He added, “If you embark on a peaceful procession, I will receive you, and if you wish, I’ll join you. “

Mr Yusuf’s statement comes on the eve of nationwide protests over economic hardships exacerbated by soaring food prices under Mr Tinubu’s government.

Though Mr Tinubu’s government has begged that the protest be shelved, Nigerians have vowed to hit the streets across the country to vent their displeasure over the prevailing cost of living crisis.