Again, the Federal Government has inaugurated a new seven-man Nigeria House Project Committee on the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, tagged “ Rio Olympic Games.”

A 15-man committee on the same project was inaugurated by the Federal Government last year to assist it realise its objective of making the Rio Olympics not only a sporting success, but also an investment drive and cultural promotion.

Speaking at the event in Abuja yesterday, Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, explained that financial constraint was responsible for the reduction of the 15-man committee’s membership to seven.

The minister said the need to re-strategise on efficient use of human and financial resources to achieve good results informed the scaling down of the former 15-member committee and subsequent re-constitution of the new one.

Dalung said the committee would identify and recommend a suitable venue close to the Games Village in Rio de Janeiro Brazil, identify and solicit for sponsorship locally and internationally to aid the Nigeria House Project, network with the Nigerian Embassy and the Local Organising Committee of the games and help facilitate seamless movement of participants, as well as materials such as artifacts, arts, crafts, and solid minerals investment equipment, among others.

He said the Federal Government was desirous of deriving multi-purpose benefits from the Olympics, adding, “you are to make a triple jump in exploring the tourism potential and other investment opportunities in agriculture, solid minerals, oil and gas and harness the prospects of our huge population. “The committee also owes it a duty to source and make available to Nigerian sports enthusiasts and participants alike relevant information, games tickets, event timing and direction to games and sporting venues.”

Responding, the Project Coordinator, Mohammed Abdullahi, thanked the minister for the confidence reposed on them to accomplish the task while promising to deliver on its mandate.

“We have a tasking job at hand and this particular job is portraying this nation at the global level. The Minister you have made a wise choice of the composition of this members and for the appearance of this members definitely and I assure you we will deliver.”