By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Apparently to avert the threat of Edo state government to stop the on-going National Sports Festival in Benin City over non availability of the funds promised by the Federal Government, the Presidency has waded into the matter.
This much was disclosed Thursday, in Abuja by the Media office of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development.
In statement signed by John Joshua Akanji who is the Media Assistant to Minister of Youth and Sports Development, the
uncertainty surrounding the continuation of the 20th Edo National Sports Festival has been resolved following
re-assurance by the Federal Government to support the Edo State Government.
According to him the assurance was given in Benin on Thursday by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Nebeolisa Anako who was quoted to have said:
“Following the news making the rounds that the Edo State Government will shut down the National sports Festival if the Federal Government support does not come through. The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is the Organiser of the National Sports festival while the Edo State Government is the host.
“I wish to announce that the Athletes are in their various game villages and games are ongoing following the intervention of the Presidency assuring that the financial support to the Edo State Government is in it final processing stage.
“The games are not under threat. There was an Information gap earlier but as we speak, the games are ongoing and we assure you there won’t be any closure till the closing of the National Sports Festival”, the Permanent Secretary assured.
