Al-Hassan Yakmut, the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, on Tuesday said the Federal Government has released N2.9 billion for preparation for the All Africa Games.
Yakmut said this in Abuja at a meeting with presidents and secretaries of sports federations in the country.
The director general said the meeting was to map out detailed plans for the All Africa Games slated for September 4 to 19 in the Congolese capital of Brazzaville.
He said the forum would decide Nigeria’s technical and administrative participation in the All Africa’s Games and create a “technical connect” for Nigeria’s participation in the 2016 Olympics.
According to him: “The NSC got the approval of Mr. President for the Ministry of Finance to provide about N2.97 billion to take us to the All Africa Games and to prepare for the Olympics.
“We made a budget of N6.5 billion as the request for our participation but later sat down as technocrats to review the budget and presented a modest proposal of N2.97 billion.
“With this approval that came more than 45 days before the games and the commission was proactive in starting camps for the games 63 days before the approval.
“This was to ensure that all the segments for the games were involved in the medical assessment, fitness assessment, technical and tactical preparation and that they were all put together as we intensify preparation to ensure monitoring.”
Yakmut said Nigeria’s participation was necessary since we needed to showcase developments in sports over the years.
He said: “Our participation in the 2015 All Africa Game is of significant importance because all countries that would be going for the games would be there to showcase empirical development in sport in their respective countries.”
Also speaking, Habu Gumal, the President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, urged athletes and coaches to stay away from drugs.
Gumel said: “We can win the entire medal but we must do that with our God given strength.
“Drugs cannot make us to win medals.
“It will only bring us shame.”
NAN.