The Media Office of Nigeria’s sports minister, Chief Sunday Dare has revealed that the much postponed National Sports Festival will still go ahead as planned from April 2nd to 14th.
According to a press release signed by media aide, John Joshua Akanji, an estimated 8,000 athletes are expected to feature in the fiesta that had suffered postponement on about four occasions.
While undertaking a tour of the facilities meant for the festival and during a meeting with the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, Chief Dare said: “on April 2nd, 2021, the camp for the Edo Festival would be opened.
“On April 6th the official opening of the festival by Mr President would take place. But beyond that, we are also working closely with the PTF, NCDC and others to ensure that the necessary support we need in terms of vaccination of athletes and test kits will be available.
“We are also toning down the number of athletes that would be participating from 14,000 to 8,000. I must thank the Governor and his Deputy Governor for taking the lead on this.”
On accommodation of athletes, the minister said: “We have been able to get the University of Benin to host our athletes. There are still some works to be done here which may not be in the radar, but everything is on track I can tell you with certainty that the Edo National Sports Festival will hold.”
After meeting with the governor, His Excellency Godwin Obaseki, his Deputy Comrade Philip Shuaibu, we are reassured that we are on track to host a successful National Sports Festival. All obstacles have been cleared; we are ready for a great festival.
“The event is coming at the most auspicious time when we are preparing for the Olympics.
“This is our local Olympics and we shall make the most of it. The President has given his nod for the festival to take place, there’s no going back”
The festival billed for last year was postponed due to the outbreak of Covid-19.
The new date of February was also moved due to paucity of funds.
Chief Dare had to make a special presentation to the President for funds to support Edo State after the Governor declared that the state lacked the resources to host the festival.
