THE Director General of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for ending bureaucratic delays in sports funding.

Shaibu, in a message he personally signed to President Tinubu, said the directive that all budgetary allocation for sports be released immediately after budget passage has totally eradicated the bottleneck encountered by Nigerian Sports.

‎ “President Tinubu has broken yet another jinx for his visionary and timely directive aimed at ending bureaucratic delays in sports financing in Nigeria. This is a resounding thank you message to you, our amiable President.

“You have not only offered the platform for service but have also provided the enabling environment and tools which have been the missing link in the history of Nigerian sports,” he said.

‎ Shaibu thanked the president for “this milestone in Nigerian Sports funding,” saying that bureaucratic methods have long repressed the growth of sports.

‎ “I am indeed proud to be alive to witness this revolution in Nigerian sports. The bold intervention by Mr President will enhance the planning, execution and sustainability of sports programmes nationwide. Timely access to funds will ensure that critical sports infrastructure projects are completed as scheduled, training facilities are upgraded, and equipment is procured to meet international standards.

“The President’s order to review sports-related allocations currently dispersed across various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) will bring much-needed coordination, transparency and efficiency into sports administration,” he said.

‎ According to Shaibu, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, “this restructuring will strengthen sports as a national institution, eliminate duplication of roles, and allow for more strategic investment in athlete development and capacity building.