FOLLOWING the woeful failure of Nigerian athletes in the just concluded London 2012 Olympics, President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday ordered a comprehensive re-organisation of the nation's sport sector.Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who revealed this while briefing State House correspondents after the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday, stressed that the President was very upset over the performance of the Olympians and was intent on reversing the trend.He said the President has accordingly directed that a national retreat be organised involving state governments as well as the private sector and other stakeholders to re-order priorities in the Nigerian sporting sector."He (President) said what took place in London must be the beginning of a new momentum to re-position Nigerian sports at a level that will enable this country return to the glory it is known for in the areas of sports."President Jonathan believes that for us to change the present scenario, we need to specialise, we need to plan and we need to fund sports in a way that this country will continue to make impact in the sporting sector."He believes that the next Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympics in Brazil must enable Nigeria sets specific targets and realise them in order to promote our sports development."The information Minister remarked that President Jonathan has also called for a new direction in sports management, funding and planning.The Minister added: "He believes that what this nation needs at the moment is to take a sober look at what has happened and indeed change the scenario by working hard on all that we need to do to return the sporting sector to his glory."Mr. President emphasised the need for early planning, better administration of sports as well as funding which he believes can no longer be left to the government alone but must involve the private sector to generate sufficient resources to return our sports to it's glory."The minister was confident that in the next couple of weeks, concrete steps towards the revival of sports in the country would begin to manifest, saying, "you are going to see action in this area as we prepare to work and ensure that Nigeria in subsequent events, in continental and global, takes it proper place within the continent and globally in sporting competitions."Also speaking on the decision of FEC, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Serah Ochepe, disclosed that the Council has approve the award of contract for the rehabilitation of the Obudu Dam in Cross River State at the cost of N1.66billion. She explained that the dam which belongs to the Federal Government has been in a state of disrepair, adding that a memo was brought to the council to enable Cross River State government to carry out its regional urban water supply project which would cover four communities of Obudu, Ogoja, Ikom, and Calabar.She remarked that the state government has since 2005 obtained an International Development Association (IDA) loan to develop the regional water scheme that would meet the needs of the communities.
Click here to read full news..
