Stakeholders demand intervention funds ahead of Gateway Games

NSC denies postponement of festival

As Directors of Sports nationwide look forward to the Joint Technical Meeting, which will also afford them opportunity to inspect facilities for the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged: ‘Gateway Games,’ some stakeholders have appealed to the Federal Government to release ‘its intervention funds’ for the host state before the commencement of the Games.

The Directors of Sports from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, are expected to converge on Ogun State December 18 and 19 for the Joint Technical Meeting, which will enable them to know the state of readiness of the various facilities being built or renovated by Ogun State for the sports festival.

The Federal Government had approved January 2025 for the 22nd National Sports Festival during the National Council on Sports meeting held in Enugu State earlier this year.

However, some stakeholders want the Federal Government to make available the intervention funds for the host, Ogun State before the commencement of the Games to avoid a repeat of the ‘unwarranted altercation’ between Edo State and the Federal Government during the 20th edition of the Games held in Benin City.

One of the Directors of Sports from the North Central, who spoke with The Guardian yesterday, stated that it is necessary for the Federal Government to meet its part of the bargain by making available the intervention funds for the host, Ogun State, before the commencement of the Games.

“We must guard against what transpired during Edo 2020 National Sports Festival,” the Director said. “I still remember quite vividly that at the commencement of Edo 2020 Games, some LOC officials stopped attending to the athletes at venue of the competition following the failure by the Federal Government to release the intervention funds to the state. It became a major issue. Till now, I doubt if such intervention funds for Edo 2020 National Sports Festival and that of Asaba 2022 has been paid by the federal government.

“The National Sports Festival is the property of the Federal Government. Now that we have the National Sports Commission in place, it will be proper for such government intervention funds to be given to the host state to put certain things in place ahead of the National Sports Festival.

“I want such money released to Ogun State, considering the present economic situation. I am not speaking on behalf of Ogun State, but the National Sports Commission should endeavour to secure such funds well ahead of the Games. If it means pushing the Sports Festival date forward, so be it. Let the proper thing be done.”

Another Director of Sports from the South-East region said: “The National Sports Festival is the Nigeria version of the Olympics Games, and I expect the federal government to treat it as such by ensuring all that is needed at the federal level are provided.

“After Ogun 2024, the next edition of the National Sports Festival will hold in Enugu State. If things are not done properly now, I am sure there will be a spill over to Enugu 2026. I don’t want such to happen. The Federal Government’s intervention fund is necessary to complement whatever the host state is putting into the National Sports Festival.”

Meanwhile, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has dismissed reports that the Gateway Games has been postponed again. Reports by some online media, yesterday, had it that the Games had been postponed from January, next year to May 9.

Although the various reports did not name the source of their news, a top official of the NSC, yesterday, debunked the story, saying preparations for the Games are on as planned.

The NSC official, who pleaded anonymity, said: “We are aware of various reports on the purported postponement of the Games, but I want to state clearly that there is no truth in such reports. We will release an official statement on the issue if the need arises.”