National Sports Commission Restuns as FG Scraps Sports Ministry
By Nehemiah Gwamna
Reactions have continued to trail the return of the National Sports Commission, NSC after the Federal Ministry of Sports Development was scrapped by President Bola Tinubu last month.
Some sports enthusiasts and stakeholders from within and outside Nasarawa State have commended the move by the president.
They gave the commendation while speaking to Radio Nigeria Precious FM in Lafia on the recent dissolution of ministry of sports.
President Bola Tinubu had on Wednesday 23, October announced the scrapping of Ministry of Sport Development last month after the Federal Executive Council meeting in Abuja and the appointment of Shehu Dikko as Director General of the Commission.
The National Sports Commission is the Apex Body in Nigeria responsible for regulating sports in the Country, strategizing its development through policies, engagements with organizations and Elite Athletes support while managing key sports facilities like Stadiums and Arenas, ensuring high quality infrastructure.
It also works closely with National Sport Federations to coordinate sports programmes and represent Nigeria in international organisation’s while also promoting the country’s interest on the global stage.
Since scrapping the National Sports Commission, NSC by Former President Muhammad Buhari in 2015, and its replacement with the Ministry of Youth and Sport Development, stakeholders have been clamouring for a return to the old governance structure, which is normally managed by Technocrats in sports development, instead of politicians that dominate the sports Ministry.
Speaking on the development, Former Chairman Nasarawa State Football Association, Mohammed Alkali, Former President SWAN North Central Zone, Danmusa Mohammed and President Nigeria Fans Club and Boxing Board, Rafiu Ladipo emphasized that the recent pronouncement by President Tinubu to revert to the National Sports Commission as apt and a right step in the right direction.
On their parts, Coach Lawrence Sime and Sport Specialist, Effiong Nyong described scrapping of the Sport Ministry as a welcomed development, maintaining that the return of the National Sports Commission will remove bottlenecks in the sports sector especially the prompt release of funds for various sporting bodies for events.
Some sports enthusiasts bared their minds on the development saying Federal Government must ensure that only seasoned sports Technocrats and Administrators with proven track record or success in the sector are appointed into the Commission to redefine grassroots sport in the country.
They also praise the appointment of Mallam Shehu Dikko noting that his wealth of experience in sport management will surely transform Nigeria’s Sports ecosystem in no distant time.
The change from Ministry of Sports Development to National Sports Commission is part of a broader government effort to restructure and streamline sports management in Nigeria, with an emphasis on improving infrastructure, talents development and international competitiveness.
President Tinubu’s administration is focusing on the reforms to foster a culture of sports excellence and enhance Nigeria’s global sports profile.
