Africa Athletics Championships Notebook - Day One
What you need to know:
- Nigerians love their music with household names like D’Banj, Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, Flavour, 2face Idiba and Tekno all millionaires. It’s claimed that D’Banj is worth $30.5 million (about Sh3 billion).
- These artistes have lucrative endorsements with various products and services.
Confusion hits media centre
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Journalists were caught up in the confusion surrounding the Africa Athletics Championships with no hotel reservations, uncertainty over accreditation and delays in getting event start lists. Organisers put up an announcement on their website listing journalists who have been accredited.
“We wish to accredit everybody, but that would have been impossible. If your name is not on this list, you could still cover the championships from the spectators’ stand, team hotels and other areas,” media chief Olukayode Thomas said.
Pressure on police officers
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With a population of 200 million people, Nigeria is difficult to police. The police force of 300,000 doesn’t make it any easier with a ratio of one policeman for every 700 people. Worse still, many of these officers are assigned to VIP security duties. Kingsley Moghalu, who is seeking the presidency on Young Progressive Party ticket in 2019 General Election, promises to recruit 1.5 million more officers if elected president.
Naija music in-thing at clubs
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I decided to do some bar-hopping on my unscheduled overnight layover in Lagos on Sunday and at the six clubs I visited, I was impressed that they all played Nigerian music. Nigerians love their music with household names like D’Banj, Wizkid, Davido, Olamide, Flavour, 2face Idibia and Tekno all millionaires. It’s claimed that D’Banj is worth $30.5 million (about Sh3 billion). These artistes have lucrative endorsements with various products and services.
