Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, has sought President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention in the release of funds in three major competitions coming up between now and August this year.
The competitions are: 2019 Africa Beach soccer games in Cape Verde, in June, 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, holding June 7 to July 7 in France and 12th All African Games scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco from 19 August to 31 August 2019.
According to him, the the quick release of funds to facilitate the preparation
He also called for his intervention to host the African Union Volunteers Corp, as requested by the African Union, which unfortunately came after the submission of the ministry’s 2019 budget proposal.
Lalong, who spoke to State House Correspondents in Abuja after he met with President Buhari.
The minister who did not disclosed the capital expenditure profile of each of the competition said, sports is capital intensive. He added that the African games has a very large contingent because Nigeria will be participating in 15 sports and five non-Olympic sports, noting that the funds would help in trainings, campings.
He said it was important to raise the issue now as the administration is already in transition mood as the life span of this administration ends in May 29th.
“The President needs to be in the picture of this urgent demands as he transits to another administration by May 29th,” Dalung said.
Meanwhile the minister has declared that he will be remembered for his insistence on democratising the leadership and membership of various sports associations which has hauled in over 700 medals from different global tournaments.
Asked to recall the highpoints of his tenure as Buhari’s first term winds up in a few weeks, Dalong said his democratisation process allowed diverse people and interests to bring in fresh, positive ideas and contributions to sports associations in the country.
The Minister explained that this was what enabled the sports associations stabilise and more effective such that Nigerian athletes excelled enough to haul in over 700 international medals during his tenure.
He said he also reminded Buhari of the huge expectations of Nigerians from the administration in the sports sector, and assured that they would not be disappointed.
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