I wasn’t minister when you were owed, Sunday Dare replies D’Tigress

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has said he was not minister when Nigeria’s basketball team, D’Tigress, was owed. Members of the female national basketball team had released a video where they accused Nigerian sports officials of shortchanging them. They had vowed to boycott future call-ups to represent Nigeria for the 2022 World […]

Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, has said he was not minister when Nigeria’s basketball team, D’Tigress, was owed.

Members of the female national basketball team had released a video where they accused Nigerian sports officials of shortchanging them.

They had vowed to boycott future call-ups to represent Nigeria for the 2022 World Cup qualification if outstanding allowances are not paid.

The video had generated massive backlash on social media.

But responding in a video uploaded on the official Facebook page of the Federal Ministry of Youth & Sports Development, on Thursday, Dare said efforts were being made to resolve the issue.

“For athletes who wear the Nigerian colour, it’s a commitment, sacrifice. As a minister, I also ensure that I support them.”

“I work within a system where the allocation of resources is based on certain critical factors. What we have done is to ensure that we push the files and do the documentation. The processes are ongoing.

“I share the pains. These are allowances that are owed since 2017 when I was not even the minister.

“This is something that the government has on an incremental basis tried to address. I know that part of this money has been paid.

“I understand the pain and I want to put it on record that the ministry has never slept at a switch,” he said.