A Rangers player (left) in contest with an opponent in a league match

The National Full Coun
cil meeting  of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has commended the Rivers State Governor, Barrister Nyesom Wike and his administration for the commitment and support demonstrated within a short period towards national sports development and the welfare of Rivers athletes and players.
SWAN made the commendation in a communiqué released at the end of its 2015, National Full Council meeting tagged Rivers 2015 held at the Ernest Ikoli (NUJ) Press Centre, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt last week.
The four days event was the second time the state would host the meeting in recent history.
SWAN in the communiqué also thanked Chief Wike, his government and the good people of the state for their magnanimity and hospitality shown in hosting the meeting.
The Full Council meeting raised concern over the non-payment of salaries and entitlements due sports men and women engaged by various governmental and corporate organizations as well as individual sports club owners and called on their employers to pay up these arrears to reduce the hardship on Nigeria’s sports men and women.
The meeting also noted that the tendency for conflict between the office of the Minister of Sports/Chairman, National Sports Commission, and the office of the Director General of the National Sports Commission, and called on the government to come clear on what structure it wants to use in administrating sports between the ministry system and the commission system with a view to eliminate conflicts and ensuing order in the administration of sports.
It also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that persons who may be appointed to administer Nigeria Sports are distinguished technocrats with the passion, professionalism, experience and competence in sports management.
It called on the National Assembly to expedite action in the consideration and passage of various bills on sports as this will help in solving some of the problems militating against the administration and development of sports in the country.
The meeting wished all athletes to the Brazzaville 2015 All Africa games a successful outing at the continental event and called on Nigerians to pray for them.
It called on Nigerian athletes and administrators to begin now to prepare for the 2016 Olympic Games.
SWAN called on the Cross Rivers State Government and the National Sports Commission to re-engage themselves with view to restoring the programe of the National Sports Festival and by extension of the national sports calendar which appears to have come to Jeopardy after the last festival in Lagos.
Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the League management company LMC were commended for the improvements they have brought to bear on Nigeria domestic football, especially, the premier League, and urged our sports administrators not to relent in their efforts.