The House of Representatives has directed its Committee on Sports to conduct a thorough investigation into the factors behind Team Nigeria’s poor performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics and to recommend both short- and long-term reforms to prevent a repeat of such a disappointing outcome.
The House also resolved to examine the proper utilization of funds allocated for the team’s preparations and participation in the event.
This was sequel to the adoption of a Motion ” On the need to probe the abysmal performance of Team Nigeria at the just concluded Paris Olympics”, moved by Mr. Adedayo Olumuyiwa.
Mr. Olumuyiwa in leading the debate stated that the failure of Team Nigeria at the 2024 Olympics cuts across a wide spectrum.
He wondered why despite the huge budget of over twelve Billion Naira that was proposed by the Minister of Sports and provided by the Presidency, Team Nigeria still had such an abysmal showing.
He expressed concern that even after such support, and assurances by the Minister of Sports, Team Nigeria returned empty handed without a single medal from all sporting activities they competed in.
Mr. Olumuyiwa called for deemphasizing preparations for tournaments, and rather to focus on long term sports development in the country.
He suggested a complete overhaul of Sports in Nigeria and that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should establish a Commission dedicated to national sports development.
The lawmaker also suggested the constitution of an Ad-Hoc Committee to probe the performance of Team Nigeria, the budget implementation of Team Nigeria, as well as other past failures in previous Olympics by former Teams Nigeria and proffer a practical solution and line of action.
In his contribution, Mr. Kabiru Ahmad proposed an amendment calling for the motion to be referred to as the Standing Sports Committee of the House instead of constituting an Ad-Hoc one.
The motion was voted on, adopted as amended and referred to the House Committee on Sports.
Lateefah Ibrahim
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