Eko 2012 Gulps N5bn – LOC

Team Lagos receiving Gold Medals for the Men's Table Tennis event at the 18th National Sports Festival in Lagos, yesterday.

Secretary-General, Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ongoing 18th National Sports Festival, Kweku Tandoh, has said that the Lagos State Government earmarked N5 billion to organise a hitch-free Games.

Tandoh said in a statement yesterday in Lagos that the State House of Assembly approved the budget in December 2011.

“I am not too sure of the exact figure but I know it was about N5 billion which was approved by the House of Assembly and I know the state has not gone back to ask for more money.

“So, whatever we have spent is in line with that budget. That is another plus for the government because we have been able to keep everything below the bar and work in line with the budget allocated,” it said.

The statement commended the private sector for partnering with the government in organising the biennial Games.

“The support of the private sector has been encouraging. I am sure it is something we will build on for future events,” Tandoh said.

The statement also said that the LOC organised an international seminar on sports, where speakers from all over the world gathered to talk about the legacies of hosting sporting events.

It further said the LOC empowered people and put in place infrastructure that would be available for Lagosians to use to develop themselves in various sports.

“I believe we have been able to break new grounds and set new standards that subsequent festivals and hosts will build upon to take Nigerian sports to where it is supposed to be,” the statement said.

It also said the LOC was preparing a mind-blowing closing ceremony for the Games which would be remembered for a long time.

The statement added that there would be more fun from musicians like Wizkid, Wande Coal and others, to make the ceremony a memorable one.

“In the history of sports festivals in the country, Lagos has able to retain the scheduled date, without any postponement and beginning preparations in just one year,” it said.

The statement also said that a cordial relationship existed among the LOC and the Main Organising Committee (MOC), to lift the Games, in spite of challenges.

It noted that there had been several complaints about feeding and accommodations because people who were not mandated to get accommodation and feeding were those complaining.

The statement said that the LOC was mandated to provide accommodation and feeding for athletes and officials, adding that some states that came with unaccredited persons created the hitches.

“Most of the complaints are coming from the people who are not mandated to get accommodation and feeding.

“To a large extent, the LOC has been able to cope in terms of organisation, providing facilities, logistics, accommodation, feeding, security and medicals,” it said.

The statement also said that the government took participants to tourist centres in the state and regretted the beating up of athletes by soldiers and urged the military to be more patient in the discharge of their duties.