President Muhammadu Buhari has enjoined youths in the country not to lose hope despite the myriad of challenges facing Nigeria even as the Sports Minister Solomon Dalung, denied that Nigeria was never prepared for the victory of the Super Falcons.
The President who was speaking in reference to the unpaid bonuses and allowances to the Super Falcons said notwithstanding the federal government’s failure to offset the unpaid allowances, there was reason for hope in nation.
Playing host to the National Planning and Implementation Committee on the 2016 National Youth Open Water Swimming Competition in Aso Villa yesterday, he specifically urged youths in the country to “be up and doing in order to show Africa and the rest of the world that our size and number is not for nothing.”
Leader of the committee, Senator Kabiru Gaya highlighted the objectives of the competition which include: To raise a pool of responsive young Nigerian swimmers; to discover hidden talents and breed future stars and professionals to represent Nigeria in international swimming competitions; to promote cohesion, national peace, unity and security among youths.
Meanwhile, the Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, yesterday withdrew his comment insisting that the Federal Government was committed to the success of the Falcons and sports development in the country generally.
“May I conclude by trying to put into proper perspective an impression that has made national headlines to the effect that the Federal Government was not anticipating the victory of the Falcons and so could not have planned for it.
“This statement was attributed to myself. I want to categorically state that this is a statement taken out of context. And I cannot imagine or reconcile how.
“The commitment of the federal government to the support of the Falcons is indeed overwhelming. “That explains why the Vice President himself had to abandon his tight schedule to visit the players in camp that is evidence of preparations for victory.
“The federal government was prepared because it has records of the antecedents of the performance of the players. “The challenges we have today which has to do with their welfare is being given attention. We are working around the clock to see how to raise fund to address the issue of their bonuses,” Dalung noted.
