2018 NSF: Kwara athletes besiege KWHA over camp allowances, threaten to boycott game
The Kwara State Athletes on Wednesday besieged the State House of Assembly to protest over the N7m approved by the state government for the 2018 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Abuja between 6th-16th of December, 2018.
They also frowned over pruning of contingents who have been training hard for the games in the last six years.
Speaking with Pilot Sports, the Captain of Team Kwara, Abdulrahaman Issa said the sports council had told them last week that half of them will not be part of the 2018 festival due to the seven million naira released by the state government.
“The money released for the festival is very little. We heard that the state government released seven million naira but if we have to go by the memory lane, the amount is nothing, to write home about and cannot take care the needs of our people.
“The last time we met with the management of the sports council, they told us that different sports would be taken to 2018 festival with each members attached to team but suddenly, the y called us that government approved releases N7m and the events will be reduced to one each.
“That is not representation; we are here to let the house know that this is what we want. We also want them to help in persuading the government because this is what our people do, without sports there is no life and this is the only way, which government use to empower the youth and take them off the streets but suddenly, the government is not things so, if they continue in this way, we are not going where”, Abdulraham insist.
Also addressing the athletes, the Clerk of the house, Mrs Halimat Kperogi thanked the athletes for composing themselves is a very good manner.
She however promised that all the their request would be adequately addressed soonest, as she appealed to the athletes to maintain peace.
Also speaking with the athletes on behalf of the Speaker, Honourable Babatunde Mohammed, honourable representing Oloru/Malete/Ipaye Constituency appealed to the athletes and assure them that all their issues will be resolved as soon as possible.
This medium garnered that 28m was approved in 2019 while in 2011 festival, the council was given 23m and 7m was approved to prosecute the Abuja 2018 festival.
