By Akinwale Kasali
In a last minute decision, the Federal Government has ordered that the 20th Edition of the National Sports Festival should continue, reversing the decision of the Local Organizing Committee, LOC.
The LOC and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Phillip Shaibu had earlier said that the Festival would stop abruptly due to paucity of funds, as the FG has failed to redeem its pledge as regards funding.
The Federal Government on Thursday morning dismissed the position of the LOC, saying the festival which had just been flagged off, will continue as planned.
In a statement signed by Assistant Director Press, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ramon Balogun, the FG countered the position of the Edo State government.
The statement read, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has clarified that the 20th National Sports Festival, Edo 2020, is going on as planned with competitions going on as scheduled.
“The Ministry and the Main Organizing Committee for the festival are unaware of any plans or threat by the Edo State Government to shut down the sports festival as there has been no official meeting or communication that relayed such information.
“The Honorable Minister, Permanent Secretary and Directors are on ground in Benin City where the Festival is holding, and it is expected that the Edo State Government would formally invite the Ministry for a meeting should any urgency exist around the National Sports Festival or communicate officially with the Main Organizing Committee for the festival. The Ministry has no such communication.
“For the records, the Edo State government due to the cost implications of postponements occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic requested financial assistance from the Federal government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.
“The Ministry has since been at work to secure the financial assistance which it believes is being processed. The MYSD and EDSG are determined to deliver a successful National Sports Festival”.
