The Senate has revealed plans to probe the roles of the of Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, and the Nigeria Olympics Committee in the poor performance of the country’s contingent to the just ended Rio 2016 Olympics, The Eagle Online can report.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Joe Obinna Ogba, made the disclosure in Abuja.
Ogba, who was part of the official delegation to Brazil, said a lot of factors ranging from poor funding to logistics, contributed to Nigeria’s abysmal performance at the Olympics Games.
He said the Senate will look into the circumstances when it resumes from recess next month.
He said: “My committee intends to invite the NOC to come and brief us on the Olympics.
“Apart from the late arrival of our athletes’ kits, you can see even our national anthem at the opening ceremony was the wrong one.
“So, all these, we are going to find out what happened when we resume.”
On the donation of $390,000 to the Dream Team VI by a Japanese plastic surgeon and football enthusiast, Dr. katsuya Takasu, the lawmaker said it was wrong of the team to receive the money because its source was unknown.
Ogba said: “I do not think it was nice for our country to accept such money given the happenings around world now.
“Money is good but it’s not every money that comes your way that you collect.
“So, I associate myself fully with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation.”
On the calls for the resignation of Minister Dalung, Ogba said such calls were alien to Nigerian culture as only the President can hire and fire a minister.
He therefore enjoined Nigerians to plead with President Muhammadu Buhari to release adequate funds to the Ministry of Sports in order for it to fulfill its obligations.
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