NSF 2021 in limbo as Edo gov’t complains of lack of funds
The possibility of the 20th National Sports Festival to hold in February as rescheduled may have been dimmed following the revelation that the host state, Edo is not financially buoyant. The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki expressed concerns over lack of funds to host 11,500 athletes and officials. He said the COVID-19 pandemic is […]
Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State
The possibility of the 20th National Sports Festival to hold in February as rescheduled may have been dimmed following the revelation that the host state, Edo is not financially buoyant.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki expressed concerns over lack of funds to host 11,500 athletes and officials.
He said the COVID-19 pandemic is to blame for the lean purse of his government..
Obaseki disclosed this when he received members of the Main Organizing Committee (MOC) from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports Development (FMYSD) and the Local Organising Committee who paid him a courtesy visit in Benin City.
Obaseki said: “Since March last year, you know the financial strength of most States, sub-nationals and countries. For us as a State, we are ready to host but don’t have the funds at this point in time to host the games, this is the plain truth.
“If the Federal Government, however, in its wisdom decides to bring the funding for the games, we will be too willing to host the country.
“We have to live with COVID-19 because it has come to stay; even with the vaccination, the virus will still be around.
“Cancelling the game is not the solution to this issue. We have to sit down and look at all these issues critically before reaching a final decision.”
The governor also said “Beyond the game itself, which is an instrument of unity and a way of engaging the youths, there is the Tokyo Olympics to prepare for.
“But how do we prepare for the Olympics without Edo 2020? Can we afford to expose our young people to the dangers of COVID-19 or would there be other Olympics in the future? We have to balance these things.”