An alleged move by host, Enugu State, to accommodate only 20 sports in this year’s National Sports Festival is said to be raising dust in some states.

An official, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday, revealed that some states are already warming up to boycott the 23rd edition of the festival in Enugu if the National Sports Commission (NSC) failed to stop the plan to reduce the number of events.

The official, who pleaded anonymity, stated that from inception of the National Sports Festival, the structure for participatory sports has always been on a minimum of 27 compulsory sports, while the host state has the prerogative to select five optional sports to make it 32 sports.

“At the 21st edition of the National Sports Festival held in Asaba Delta State, and the 22nd edition in Abeokuta, Ogun State, a total of 39 sports featured in the festival. But as we speak, Enugu State is pushing to accommodate only 20 sports, comprising 15 compulsory sports and five optional sports at the forthcoming 23rd National Sports Festival. Many states see this as an attempt to kill the morale of many athletes, who have trained all year round. It is also an attempt to destroy the traditional foundation of the National Sports Festival,” the official alleged.

Speaking further, the official said: “This is certainly not in the best interest of sports development in Nigeria. Some hosting states usually explore the opportunity to include more sports for better competitiveness, inclusivity and introduce new sports rather than reduce.

“But the idea to reduce the number of sports rather than increase by some persons or groups is solely for personal gains, and this will not only defeat the very essence, which is to promote grassroots sports development… it will defeat the ideals of the biennial games as a platform where new talents are discovered and showcased at the international stage especially as the 2028 Olympic games approaches.

“If Enugu State does not have the facilities to accommodate the minimum numbers as required, other states are willing, ready and able to do so.”

The official urged the National Sports Commission (NSC) “to use your good office to uphold the traditional 39 or more sports, and halt any attempt to thwart the effort of states to elevate sports at the grassroots, promote national unity and boost the local economy of the hosting state.”

However, Enugu State Commissioner of Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu, told The Guardian, yesterday, that the decision to reduce the number of sports to 20 was taken during the National Council of Sports meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State, last year.

“The National Council of Sports meeting is the highest decision making body in Nigeria sports, and it was at the meeting in Calabar that the decision was taken to reduce the number to 20. All Commissioners of Sports and Chairmen of States’ Sports Commissions were at the meeting in Calabar. Why didn’t they kick against it then?”

Ekweremadu said that reducing the number of sports to 20 is in line with international practice, just as he declared that Enugu is ready to host the 2026 NSF in the last quarter of this year.

The Guardian could not reach the NSC Chairman, Shehu Dikko, on the issue yesterday as his lines were not available.