By Edosa Okunbo
The Edo State Government said it might be forced to close down the on-going 20th National Sports Festival (NSF) unless the Federal Government fulfill its counterpart funding of the games.
In a statement released last night on behalf of the Local Organising Committee by Ebomhiana Musa, Project Manager, Media & Communications of Edo 2020, said it took the decision to end the games due to paucity of funds.
The statement reads : “The Local Organising Cittee, Edo2020 regrets to announce that it will end the games abruptly tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021 for lack of funds. (Rising from an emergency meeting this evening, the LOC says it has to take this hard decision due to lack of funds having expended its reserves to kick start the games.
Regrettably, the FG is yet to redeem its pledge to support us as the host state financially for the cost of postponements. So, we are left with no option than to end the games at noon tomorrow.” The NSF was to be held almost a year ago but it suffered several postponements due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The NSF was officially declared open on Tuesday.
The sports festival which official opened on Tuesday has suffered several postponement and has made Edo state Government to incure more expenses thus, waiting for the federal government for financial assistance to complete the sports festival.
It will be recalled that Governor Godwin Obaseki had earlier complained of lack of funds for the sports festival as the state was broke. Meanwhile there were speculation last night that some athletes has tested positive for covid 19, but the media official to the game denied comment when asked about the development.