By Sylvanus Ofekun
In the wake of Team Nigeria’s disappointing performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the House Committee on Sports has called for a robust planning strategy to ensure success at the 2028 Games. Honourable Kabiru Amadu, Chairman of the Committee, emphasized that Nigeria cannot afford to repeat the dismal performance of 2024, where the country failed to win a single medal.
At the Committee’s first official interactive meeting with Minister of Sports, Senator John Enoh, Amadu stressed that Nigerian sports has made significant progress over the years, but still struggles with podium finishes at major global competitions. He attributed the meeting’s urgency to Team Nigeria’s poor outing in Paris and presented a blueprint to revamp Nigerian sports.
The Committee members expressed concern over discrepancies in the 2023/2024 Ministry of Sports budget and urged the Ministry to address these issues.They emphasized the need for proactive planning to ensure Nigeria’s success at the 2028 Olympics.
The Chairman assured that the Committee is committed to supporting the Sports Ministry and various sporting federations, particularly in funding. With the 2028 Olympics on the horizon, Nigeria’s sports sector is poised for transformation.
High point of the meeting was the presentation of cheque of ₦100 million to the Sports Minister and President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, Habu Gumel, by Hon. Amadu promised in June ahead of the Paris Olympics by the House of Reps.