馃嚦馃嚞NigeriaWest Africa
Kenyan footballers stranded in Indonesia after falling victim to fake agent scam
via Punch Nigeria4 min read
Two Kenyan footballers, Brian Andaje and Sunday Majimbo, have returned home after being left homeless and penniless in Indonesia due to a suspected football scam. They traveled to Indonesia in December 2025, believing a man posing as a football intermediary had secured professional contracts for them. Upon arrival, they found no clubs waiting and were abandoned, eventually resorting to sleeping on the streets. Their return was facilitated by a joint effort from the Indonesian Professional Footballers Association APPI, the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association KEFWA, and the Kenyan Embassy in Jakarta. This incident has prompted renewed warnings about the dangers of fake football agents and unverified recruitment offers targeting African footballers seeking opportunities abroad. FIFPRO, the International Federation of Professional Footballers, highlighted that the players were never introduced to any clubs, and communication with the intermediary ceased, leaving them stranded without income. The case underscores the importance of players verifying intermediaries are licensed by FIFA, avoiding upfront payments to agents, and seeking legal advice from national players' unions before pursuing overseas opportunities. KEFWA President James Situma emphasized the critical role of cooperation among player unions in protecting footballers globally.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to use the Ecological Fund to combat shoreline erosion endangering a significant indigenous petrochemical investment in Bayelsa State. This appeal followed a motion by Oforji Oboku, representing Yenagoa/Kolokuma/Opokuma Federal Constituency, who highlighted the threat to the Eraskorp Industrial Park in Gbarain, Yenagoa Local Government Area. The Eraskon Lubricants/Chemicals Blending Plant, a private-sector initiative, aims to reduce Nigeria's reliance on imported lubricants and chemical products, supporting industrialization and economic diversification. The facility, which includes a lubricant and chemical blending plant with a 128,000 liters per day production capacity, an aerosol manufacturing plant, and a carton production factory, had reached an advanced stage of construction before erosion caused severe damage. Oboku noted that the Integrated Manufacturing Complex building, 75 percent complete, had to be dismantled due to foundation destruction, and most process equipment is already on site. Abandoning the project would have significant economic consequences, including the loss of over 200 direct and 1,000 indirect jobs, and would hinder growth for small and medium-scale enterprises. The House mandated its Committee on Ecological Fund to oversee the implementation of the resolution and report back within six weeks.
Dennis Amachree, a former Assistant Director of the Department of State Services, states in his memoir, "DSS @40: My Journey Behind the Shield," that the late military Head of State, General Sani Abacha, believed he was invincible. Amachree highlights that despite extensive security, Abacha's death underscores the transient nature of power. He questions why prominent figures allegedly propagated conflicting accounts of Abacha's death, viewing this as indicative of a broader issue of misinformation and lack of accountability in Nigeria, which he argues has hindered the country's progress. Amachree also recalls that before his death in June 1998, Abacha was reportedly planning to transition from a military ruler to a civilian president, having perfected plans for self-succession by forming political parties that adopted him as their presidential candidate, creating the impression of a democratic transition while serving his political ambition.
The United States has invested $1.2 million over the past five years in cultural heritage preservation across 21 Nigerian states, according to Keith Heffern, Charge d鈥橝ffaires of the U.S. Embassy. This investment, primarily through the Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, is described as a strategic initiative benefiting both nations. The project has digitally preserved over 250 Nok artefacts, upgraded a museum, trained 50 Nigerian youths in advanced digital skills, and reached more than 50,000 people nationwide. The system also incorporates Non-Fungible Token-based artefact tracking technology to combat illicit trafficking of cultural property and strengthen law enforcement cooperation. Hannatu Musawa, Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, noted that this initiative delivers a key component of a cultural preservation agreement signed between Nigeria and the United States. She highlighted the importance of digital preservation in making Nigeria鈥檚 history accessible and plans to extend this approach to other cultural heritage sites. Gen. Christopher Musa retd., Minister of Defence, emphasized that preserving cultural heritage is vital for national security, unity, and identity. The Wheyham Foundation, in collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, Yale University, and the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, commissioned the Wheyham Project, which has digitally catalogued over 250 Nok artefacts, refurbished the Nok Museum, and introduced immersi