Sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has declared that the National Sports Festival will now hold every two years, as he says plans have already been put in place to ensure continuity for the spectacle, sports247.ng reports.
With the 2018 edition declared open on Thursday in Abuja, Dalung said it was an excitiing part of Nigeria’s history and assured that the sports ministry will continue to sustain the festival as a national legacy and a strong source of national unity of the country.
Dalung said the festival is Nigeria’s version of the Olympic Games and went on appeal to the national assembly to increase general budgetary allocations to sports development in Nigeria.
While reiterating that the FCT will gain economically and socially from the 10-day competition, Dalung said he is confident the festival will not fade into oblivion.
Speaking at Abuja City Gate, during a reception for the Torch of Unity to herald the 2018 festival, Dalung revealed that two states have already indicated interest to host the next edition of the Festival
The minister added: “We have received applications from two states who have indicated interest, and they have provided guaranty that they will host the next edition. The council on sports will look at it.
“After the resolution of the National Council of Sports, we decided to come back and think outside the box.
“In doing that, we felt that engaging the private sector, it will go a long way in mitigating against some of these challenges.
“After this edition, there is going to be series of mobilisation, going round to educate people, road shows discussing these issues before getting to the Games proper.
“No host city in the world has hosted sports festival and does not declare excess.
“For Abuja, it is going to be economic transformation. The national sports festival is one of the legacies of our national unity.
“It will be a boost to our efforts to entrench national integration and unity in Nigeria,” Dalung concluded.
