The 20th National Sports Festival currently ongoing in Edo State will continue after the Presidency’s intervention.
This is according to the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development which stated this on Thursday via a statement.
According to the statement, the uncertainty surrounding the continuation of the Sports Festival has been resolved following reassurance by the Federal Government to support the Edo State Government.
“Following the news making the rounds that the Edo State Government will shut down the National sports Festival if the Federal Government support does not come through,” the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Nebeolisa Anako was quoted as saying in Benin.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development is the Organiser of the National Sports festival while the Edo State Government is the host.
“I wish to announce that the Athletes are in their various game villages and games are ongoing following the intervention of the Presidency assuring that the financial support to the Edo State Government is in its final processing stage.
“The games are not under threat. There was an Information gap earlier but as we speak, the games are ongoing and we assure you there won’t be any closure till the closing of the National Sports Festival.”
The Ministry’s reaction comes amid a threat shutdown threats by the Local Organising Committee over the funding of the competition.
The LOC on Wednesday had said the Federal Government was yet to redeem its pledge to support the host state financially for the cost of postponements, which has left it with no option but to end the games at noon on Thursday.
