Sports ministry warns against alleged plans to sabotage preparations

The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has warned that it will not allow any act of sabotage of Nigeria’s preparation for the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Mohammed Manga, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the ministry, issued the warning in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

He said the warning was against the backdrop of certain elements involved in acts aimed at sabotaging Nigeria’s Olympics invitational trials slated for Lagos.

Manga said the act was tantamount to undermining Nigeria’s national interest in the area of sports.

He noted that a successful Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) congress in Abuja had produced Tonobok Okowa as President and he was inaugurated by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare.

The director said the election and inauguration should have brought an end to all distractions occasioned by the leadership crisis that “ended with the expiration of the old AFN board.”

“The Ministry’s focus remains achieving an impressive podium performance for Nigeria at the Olympics.

“It has therefore approved series of qualifying events for Team Nigeria athletes to score the final points required to qualify for the Olympic games.

“Anyon, under any guise attempting to block participating countries and athletes from attending these events is consequently sabotaging Nigeria, and will be held accountable,” he said.

Supreme reports that Okowa on Monday emerged the new President of AFN in the election conducted in Abuja.

Ibrahim Gusau was however re-elected AFN President in Birnin-Kebbi same day, by a faction of the federation.