Imoke Calls Sports Administrators Greedy

Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River says he has not found suitable persons for the state’s Sports Commission and accused Nigerian sports officials of working for only “what they can get” from sports.

Addressing the annual Convention of the Nigeria International Athletics Association (NIAA) in Calabar on Tuesday, Imoke described Nigerian sports administrators as greedy.

He said it was unfortunate that they misappropriated funds meant for athletes.

The governor noted that because appointments to sports offices were used to compensate politicians, most of those appointed were unsuitable to hold such offices.

He said it was disgusting that officials outnumbered athletes at competitions held outside the country.

He said such irregularities were responsible for Nigeria’s failure to produce Olympic champions in recent years.

Our correspondent reports that the NIAA is made up of the country’s athletes based abroad, mainly in the US.

Imoke said it was time to reverse the situation and have better sports administration in Nigeria.

He called for persons passionate about improving sports to be involved in the running of the sector.

“The future of Nigeria lies in the hands of the youths of tomorrow. If they cannot be encouraged by us, we will never realise our vision.

“We have started a project that will take years to materialise; we want to produce Olympic champions in Cross River,” the governor said.

Also speaking, Mr Raymond Obetan, the Commissioner for Sports and Youth Development, said the government’s Comprehensive Sports Development Programme, had started paying off.

He disclosed that Cross River placed sixth at the just-concluded National School Sports Festival in Kano.

NIAA President Harrison Salami said the association was shipping to Nigeria some track and field equipment that would spur the youth to take part in sports.