Reps Committee Chairman seeks repositioning of Sports Development

The newly appointed chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports, Reps Kabiru Amadu Mai Palace has called for the cooperation, dedication, time of colleagues and relevant Stakeholders to forge ahead and advance the cause of sports in the country.

Speaking Thursday at its Committee meeting in Abuja, he stated that repositioning of sports if optimally pursued is necessary for optimum performance in global competitions, generation of huge foreign exchange, reduction in unemployment and crimes.

Lamenting the dismal condition of sporting activities and infrastructure, he said that Nigeria’s inability to win a single medal during the Paris 2024 Olympics, decaying Stadia across the country are indications that sports development in the country needs complete overhaul, adequate budgetary allocations and timely preparation for global competitions.

He said that the Committee would ensure that agencies under its purview perform their statutory mandates to the benefits of the greatest majority of Nigerians by periodic engagement and conduct of oversight.

“The Committee envisages sustainable development plans, detailed grassroots programmes, training facilities, comprehensive medical support system, strategic players’ rotation designed to promote football development and other sporting activities across the nation through the federal ministry of sports development”.

“The issue of decaying sporting infrastructure across the country especially the national stadia should be urgently looked into and addressed through adequate budgetary allocations”.

The Chairman said that it is the opinion of the committee that the national institute of sports (NIS) should brace up and provide the prerequisite manpower, training needed to make the nation to excel in sports.

He said that it is the hope of the committee that the super eagles will qualify for the Africa cup of nations slated for Morocco in 2025. He also said that there is the need for timely and adequate preparation for the forthcoming Olympics scheduled to take place 2028 in Los Angeles in order to avoid the dismal performance of the Paris olympics.

The laqmaker who is representing Gusau Tsafe constituency tasked his colleagues in the Sports Committee to come up with more ideas for the success of its functions.