According to a statement released on Wednesday night by the LocalmOrgansing Committee of the Edo 2020 National Sports Festival, the festival will be stopped abruptly because of a lack of funds from the Sports Ministry.
The Local Organizing Committee headed by the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuaibu, lamented the lack of funds from the Federal Government, and the tournament that is scheduled to hold for twelve days will be brought to a close after seven days.
In a statement by the Coordinator of Media and Publicity, National Sports Festival, Ebomhiana Musa, he said,
"The Local Organising Committee, Edo2020 regrets to announce that it will end the games abruptly tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021, for lack of funds.
“Regrettably, the FG is yet to redeem its pledge to support us as the host state financially for the cost of postponements. So, we are left with no option but to end the games at noon tomorrow.”
But there seems to be confusion in the camp, as at 12pm today, some of the LOCs were not attending to athletes, while another report stated that activities took place, low-key.
But according to the Assistant Director of Press, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ramon Balogun, on Thursday morning, said, “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.
“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.
“The Ministry has since been at work to secure the financial assistance which it believes is being processed. The MYSD and EDSG are determined to deliver a successful National Sports Festival.”
The Local Organizing Committee headed by the Deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuaibu, lamented the lack of funds from the Federal Government, and the tournament that is scheduled to hold for twelve days will be brought to a close after seven days.
In a statement by the Coordinator of Media and Publicity, National Sports Festival, Ebomhiana Musa, he said,
"The Local Organising Committee, Edo2020 regrets to announce that it will end the games abruptly tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021, for lack of funds.
“Regrettably, the FG is yet to redeem its pledge to support us as the host state financially for the cost of postponements. So, we are left with no option but to end the games at noon tomorrow.”
But there seems to be confusion in the camp, as at 12pm today, some of the LOCs were not attending to athletes, while another report stated that activities took place, low-key.
But according to the Assistant Director of Press, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Ramon Balogun, on Thursday morning, said, “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.
“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.
“The Ministry has since been at work to secure the financial assistance which it believes is being processed. The MYSD and EDSG are determined to deliver a successful National Sports Festival.”