Amenities’ inspection postponed againFor the third time in two months, a brand new date has been fastened for the inspection of amenities for the twenty second Nationwide Sports activities Pageant, tagged: ‘Gateway Video games.’
This newest postponement has prompted stakeholders to query Ogun State’s readiness to host the fiesta as scheduled.
Ogun State received the bid to host the biennial sports activities fiesta on the finish of the final version held in Asaba, Delta State in 2022. Going by its two-year association, the twenty second version of the Video games is meant to carry this 12 months, however Ogun State select January 2025 for the occasion, a date the Federal Authorities authorized in the course of the Nationwide Council on Sports activities held in Enugu State earlier this 12 months.
It will likely be the second time Ogun is internet hosting the Nationwide Sports activities Pageant, after internet hosting it in 2006 in the course of the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
A Joint Technical Assembly, comprising Administrators of Sports activities from all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in addition to prime stakeholders, was earlier fastened for November 20 to 23 in Ogun State for inspection of all of the amenities constructed or renovated for the Video games. It was later postponed to December 11 and 13.
Nevertheless, the date has once more been postponed, creating an ‘impression’ that every one will not be effectively with the amenities.
A letter, dated December 6, 2024, tagged Nationwide Sports activities Pageant Ogun 2024, (NSC/NSFPS/22ndNFS/COR/VOL1/, obtained by The Guardian, yesterday, states: “I want to discuss with our earlier letter Ref No: FMSD/NSFPS/22ndNSF/COR/VOL1 dated December 1, 2024, on the above topic and to tell you that the first Joint Technical Assembly has been postponed.”
In accordance with the letter signed by the Secretary of the Most important Organising Committee (MOC) of the twenty second NSF, Mrs Thecla Opara, the Joint Technical Assembly will now maintain between Wednesday, December 18 and Thursday December 19, 2024, whereas departure of delegates is on Friday December 20.
The letter, nevertheless, warned all of the delegates to be financially ready for the go to to Ogun State. It stated: “Please notice that every one bills related along with your participation on the assembly shall be borne by your state.”
Among the stakeholders, who spoke with The Guardian, yesterday, expressed unhappiness over the flip of occasions within the construct as much as Ogun 2024 Nationwide Sports activities Pageant.
One among them stated: “The federal government and folks of Ogun State ought to have identified that the Nationwide Sports activities Pageant is held each two years. The final version was held in Asaba in 2022, and when Ogun received the bid to host the twenty second version, we thought it was going to happen in 2024. They got here up with an excuse that Ogun State authorities entered an settlement with Babcock College to accommodate athletes of their hostel, and as such, the Video games will maintain in January, 2025.
“We understood. Now, the Joint Technical Assembly to examine amenities is being postponed for the third time in December, and January is across the nook. The primary round was November 20 and 23, whereas the second was December 11-13. It’s like one thing will not be proper someplace.”
Maybe, one main subject of concern to the stakeholders is the a part of the letter, which directed them to arrange themselves financially for the go to to Ogun State.
One official stated: “I bear in mind when Edo State hosted the twentieth version in 2020, the state catered for lodge and transportation bills of all delegates to the Joint Technical Assembly. Delta State additionally did similar within the construct as much as the twenty first version, Asaba 2022 in addition to the final Nationwide Youth Video games additionally held in Asaba.
“To me, telling the states’ governments to cater for bills of delegates to Ogun State is like saying that you just don’t need many delegates to point out up for the inspection of amenities. The 12 months is winding down, and most authorities workplaces are not accepting information regarding officers’ journey outdoors their state. If Ogun State will not be able to host, they need to tell us.”
Efforts to talk with Ogun State Commissioner for Sports activities Improvement, Wasiu Isiaka, had been unsuccessful yesterday.
The Guardian recollects that Isiaka had assured earlier this 12 months that amenities on the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the Gateway Stadium in Sagamu, and Alake Sports activities Centre can be prepared forward of the January 2015 date of the Nationwide Sports activities Pageant.
