The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, Tuesday, sought President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention in the release of funds for three major competitions coming up between now and August this year.
The three competitions coming up soon are the 2019 Africa Beach soccer games in Cape Verde, in June, 8th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, starting from June 7 to July 7 in France and 12th All African Games scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco from August 19 to 31, 2019.
Dalung also said that he will be remembered for his insistence on democratising the leadership and membership of various sports associations which has hauled in over 700 medals from different global tournaments.
Speaking to State House Correspondents after meeting behind closed doors with the President, Dalung said that quick release of funds will facilitate the preparations for the tournaments.
He also called for President Buhari’s intervention to host the African Union Volunteers Corp, as requested by the African Union, which he noted came after the submission of the ministry’s 2019 budget proposal.
Though he did not mention the capital expenditure profile of each of the competition, he noted that sports were capital intensive.
He added that the African games have a very large contingent because Nigeria will be participating in 15 sports and five non-Olympic sports, adding that the funds would help in trainings, campings.
It was important to raise the issue, according to him, now as the administration was already in transition mood as the life span of this administration ends on May 29.
He said, “The President needs to be in the picture of these urgent demands as he transits to another administration by May 29.”
