Senators summon NSC and NFF officials to explain the current collapse of Nigerian sports

SENATORS have held an emergency meeting with the heads of the Nigerian Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to demand answers to the nagging question of the nation's recent poor performances.

Over the last year, Nigerian sports has been in the doldrums with the Super Eagles failing to qualify for the World Cup and the junior teams also struggling to secure qualification tickets. At the recent Commonwealth Games, Nigeria also fell shy of the 11 gold medals it won four years ago and the biggest blow of all, last week, the Super Falcons not only lost their Women's African Cup of Nations crown but also failed to qualify for next year's World Cup.

With sports fans fuming over these developments, the Senate Committee on Sports decided to summon NSC and NFF officials to the National Assembly to explain matters. At the emergency meeting with the NSC chairman Shehu Dikko and the NFF president Ibrahim  Gusau, senators asked what were the factors responsible for the teams' recent poor performances.

This meeting was presided over by the chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi.  Speaking to journalists after the meeting, Senator Ningi said the session was convened at the prompting of the senate president, Senator Godswill Akpabio, who had expressed concern over the state of sports, particularly football, in the country.

Senator Ningi added: "I have the authority of the senate president on this very important meeting, who recently asked me, Senator Ningi, what is happening in sports? What is happening in football?"

He explained that the meeting was preparatory to a briefing he would present to the Senate when it resumes next month on the state of sports and football in Nigeria and measures being taken to reposition the sector for improved performances. According to Senator Ningi, one of the key issues discussed was the need for the NSC and NFF to strengthen their relationship and work together to improve the performance of Nigerian teams on the international stage.

Senator Ningi said the two bodies currently appeared to be operating at considerable distance from each other, stressing that greater collaboration was necessary to reverse the country's declining football fortunes. He added that discussions between the two organisations were continuing, noting that efforts were already underway to improve coordination between them.

Furthermore, he said the emergency meeting was also aimed at determining why Nigerian football teams had continued to record disappointing results despite what he described as substantial support and motivational packages provided by President Bola Tinubu. Senator Ningi recalled that the federal government had, under President Tinubu, provided significant financial incentives to Nigerian players and officials.

He said the gesture demonstrated the administration's commitment to motivating the country's sportsmen and women to succeed at international competitions. Senator Ningi also noted that the president had significantly increased the budgetary allocation to the sports sector.