The Nigeria Olympic Committee on Thursday appealed to President Muhammad Buhari to intervene in providing funds for Nigeria’s participation in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil.
The NOC Secretary-General, Tunde Popoola, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos that provision of funding was paramount because training for Olympic-bound athletes could no longer wait.
He said: “Training for athletes can no longer wait.
“We can’t wait any longer than we have waited.
“If we wait any further, then it is pointless going for the Games.
“We are already late and not releasing funds is adding more to our problems.
“The President should please release money allocated for the Olympics.
“Mr. President should please give sports what it deserves.”
According to the secretary, NOC is agitating for release of funds now because it is time to make use of the funds.
Popoola said: “It is now time to facilitate some of the things required of us and already we are behind time.
“We should not allow the 2012 experience repeat itself when we performed woefully.
“For now, a whole lot is expected from us.”
Popoola said although he agreed with Buhari’s idea of honesty and transparency in sports and in every sphere, probing into the sport sector could wait until after the Games.
He said: “The President’s transparency drive is a good idea and I support it completely.
“However, the probe into how money was spent can wait until we get back from Rio.
“The probe can be done at any time.
“The facts are there, the vouchers for payments are there and can’t disappear.
“If we are waiting to get to the root of the probe, it will drag on for too long and can even be after the Olympics is over.
“This is unnecessary delay, which can be sorted out after the Olympics.”
NAN reports that the Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, had repeatedly said that money for the 2016 Olympics had been provided for during the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville, Congo.
Dalung said that N2.9 billion was earmarked for the 2016 Olympics and paid to the National Sports Commission but the commission has since been scrapped.
NAN.
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