The Federal Government has rejected Edo state government’s threat of stopping the National Sports Festival due to lack of funds.
LIB reported that the Local Organizing Committee of the event had threatened to shut down the event by 12pm today April 8 following the failure of the federal government to release funds for the event which has been on for the past one week.
However in a statement released by Assistant Director Press Ministry of Youth and Sports Development Ramon Balogun, the federal government stated that it is unaware of any threat by the state government to shut down the sports festival.
The Ministry also said that it is expected that the Edo State Government would formally invite them for a meeting should any urgency exist around the National Sports Festival or communicate officially with the Main Organizing Committee for the festival.
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.”
