Sports
Coronavirus: NPFL Won’t Shut-Down Season-Dikko
The Nigeria Professional Football League will not be suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak across the world, Chairman of the League Management Company, Shehu Dikko, has said.
In a chat with newsmen, Dikko, said the country was still safe for league games to go on due to the number of coronavirus cases recorded.
Leagues in Europe, South Africa and Ghana have been suspended due to the virus but Dikko said the NPFL was still safe to go ahead.
“We don’t have plans of stopping the league, at least for now. Coronavirus is a matter of public health and Nigeria so far has only two cases and one of them is negative now, so, we are not like other countries, where they are dealing with containment,” Dikko said
The Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, had on Friday, said the second confirmed case of coronavirus in the country no longer had the virus and would be discharged from the treatment centre in Lagos. This left the index case as the only positive coronavirus patient in the country, but on Monday, another positive case was reported in Lagos.
“What we are dealing with here is prevention and the public authorities are doing everything possible and the World Health Organisation is even using Nigeria as a reference point, so, we are having conversations with everyone involved and at the appropriate time, if they advise us on what to do, we will comply.”
On what the NPFL is doing to educate players and fans on the virus, Dikko said, “We are creating awareness, the same awareness that the Ministry of Health has been saying, that you need to keep washing your hands, limit physical contacts like shaking of hands, so, all that awareness is being given to people. So, we are going to increase that tempo to see what happens, while we keep having the conversations with the right authorities and also studying what would happen.
“The moment we see that we have to take a certain line of action, we will not shy away from doing it.
“We are reviewing the pre-match handshake formalities to see if that would help, but so far, we have not done it because we are just dealing with prevention, not containment. Since the virus is not yet endemic in the country for now, we will continue to talk with the right people and get the right advice,” he added.
The Bayelsa State government, yesterday, announced that the marathon will be held on Saturday, April 4, 2026.
The inaugural race is owned by the Bayelsa State Government and will be organised by Nilayo Sports Management Limited, a sports management company.
Under the theme “The Reveal,” the race represents a bold unveiling of Bayelsa’s immense human and cultural potential to the international community, inviting the world to witness the resilience, grit, and talent rooted in the heart of the Niger Delta.
According to the organisers, the race will be flagged off at 9:30 a.m., at the Opolo Roundabout, guiding participants through a carefully designed 10-kilometre route that highlights the scenic beauty and vibrant atmosphere of Yenagoa.
The course will culminate at Peace Park Square, where athletes will cross the finish line into a grand celebration of endurance, unity, and community spirit.
To elevate the experience for runners and spectators alike, the finish venue will host a high-energy post-race concert featuring performances from top A-list artistes, blending sport and entertainment in a festival-style atmosphere.
The organisers directed all registered participants to collect their race bibs and kits at the designated Peace Park Square between March 30 and April 3, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily.
The race, according to them, is currently on track for World Athletics accreditation, underscoring the commitment of both the Bayelsa State Government and Nilayo Sports Management Limited to delivering an event that meets the highest global standards.
The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, on Friday continued the Commission’s nationwide appreciation tour with a visit to Abeokuta, where outstanding junior athlete, Majekodunmi Afusat Bisola, was presented with a cheque of N3 million.
The presentation forms part of the NSC’s initiative to recognise and reward exceptional junior athletes who distinguished themselves in 2025 and contributed significantly to Nigeria’s medal haul.
Majekodunmi delivered an impressive run of performances on the track. At the last edition of the National Sports Festival, she stormed to gold in the 400m and the 4x400m relay. She replicated the double triumph at the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Junior Championship, in Abeokuta, before emerging as one of the standout stars at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.
Speaking during the presentation, Olopade explained that the Commission deemed it necessary to extend financial appreciation to grassroots athletes after elite performers had earlier received grants running into thousands of dollars.
“A few weeks ago, after paying grants to our elite athletes, we agreed tthere was a need to also appreciate these young, budding talents who made Nigeria proud last year,” he said.
He disclosed that of the 376 medals recorded by Nigerian athletes in 2025, more than 200 were won by grassroots talents, underscoring the importance of sustained investment in youth development.
-
Business1 day agoNERC Amends Order on Meter Tampering, Power Bypass For Discos
-
News2 days agoPolice Arrest Nigerian, Two Others For Kidnapping In Edo
-
Business1 day agoNigeria, AFC sign $1.3 billion deal to build alumina refinery
-
Rivers1 day agoKENPOLY Rector Promises To Prioritise Students’ Welfare
-
Rivers1 day agoDon, Stakeholders Urge Environmental Laws In N’Delta
-
News2 days agoNDLEA Arrests Ex-Councillor With 40kg Skunk, Recovers Drugs In Diapers
-
Business1 day agoNCDMB Signs Mgt Deal With Radisson, Edison…As Board’s 204 Rooms Hotel Open December 2026
-
Rivers1 day agoADIAFRICA Flags-off Free Eye Screening Outreach In PH