The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Solomon Dalung

  • Why NFF crisis has persisted – Minister

    Why NFF crisis has persisted – Minister

    The Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, has said the leadership crisis in the country’s football has persisted because “there is more money in the game than in the oil industry.”

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been embroiled in a leadership tussle since elections into the federation’s executive committee in 2014.

    Dalung has now traced the NFF crisis to the money in the game.

    “There’s more cash in football than in the oil sector and there is so much selfish interests and as a result we have this crisis,” africaFootball.com quoted Dalung as saying on a Hausa interview programme broadcast by Freedom Radio Kano Tuesday morning.

    “There is someone who wants to force his way as the NFF president and that is why I have had to order full police presence at the NFF secretariat, if not work will not be going on there.”

    Dalung also spoke on a committee put in place to chart a fresh path for the country’s football and headed by former NFF president, Ibrahim Galadima, saying he has been encouraged by FIFA officials to implement the recommendations of the panel.

    “FIFA officials have told me that members of this committee are straightforward and trust worthy. They have finished their work and will soon submit it to me and I hope to work with their recommendations because they will move our football forward,” the minister stated.

  • Rio Olympic: Nigeria yet to officially begin preparation

    Exactly 98 days to the kick off of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil, Nigeria is yet to hit the ground running in terms of its preparation for the sports fiesta.

    Even when some nations like Great Britain and a host of others have started final phase of preparation, there are indications that what befell Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympic may be brewing as there has not been any formal build up to the games.

    Despite the qualifications of athletes in wrestling and table tennis, the sports ministry is yet to officially call the athletes to camp.

    At Seoul 1988 and London 2012 Olympic Games were the two games that Nigeria has failed to win a medal and sports buffs believe anther poor showing is about to happen with the recent development.

    Despite the efforts made after the poor outing at the 2012 London Olympic Games, a sports summit was organized to avert such occurrence again but as things are Nigeria may have returned to the status quo.

    For the Nigeria Wrestling Federation President, Daniel Igali, the preferential treatment given to some sports over others when it comes to getting ready for major championships is worrisome.

    Igali, an Olympics gold medalist said recently that, “The sports authorities feel that the money that could have been used to send athletes for training in preparation for Olympics to bring glory to the country can better be used for an irrigation project. Imagine over N300 million spent on the Eaglets; but yet just N20 million for wrestlers was said to be too much an investment in an Olympic year! This is really sad.”

    Everything seems to be going the wrong way for Nigeria with the Ministry of Sport to be a fixed on how to commence the preparation blaming it on paucity of fund.

    According to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, Nigeria’s preparations for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro is been hampered by the inability to account for the N2.9billion released by the Federal Government to the defunct National Sports Commission (NSC) last year.

    The minister said that the money meant for the 2015 All Africa Games as well as the preparations for the Rio2016, could not be properly accounted for which explains why the Federal Government was reluctant in releasing further funds.

    However, the sports minister has promised to take the matter of Nigeria’s preparations for the summer games to the Presidency to avoid a repeat of the failure at London 2012 in Brazil.

    Some of the athletes who spoke with NationSport that nobody should expect miracles from them in Brazil. “It is what you give that you get. I will just try my best in Brazil but nobody should put pressure on me. We thought this minister will bring us good tidings but the man seems to be pre-occupied with constituting of committee for hospitality for the Olympics rather than given attention to athletes who are the actors. I don’t think he understands sports,” the athlete who pleaded anonymity said.

    [news_box style=”2″ display=”tag” link_target=”_blank” tag=”Rio Olympics” count=”6″ show_more=”on” show_more_type=”link”]

  • Lalong, Dalung clash in Plateau

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong and Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung have clashed in Shendam at a cultural event.

    A source said the minister came into the Shendam Mini Stadium when the festival was about to end, with the governor present.

    His arrival reportedly disrupted the event, following his long convoy.

    The source said Lalong, who was embarrassed by the protocol breach, remained calm.

    He said the situation would have degenerated, but for the intervention of mobile policemen.

    The source added: “Governor Lalong’s followers insisted that the minister should not be given a seat, alleging that he was not invited.”

    He said the minister was later offered a seat, but he insisted on sitting next to the governor.

    The source noted that despite the calmness by Lalong, his supporters were unhappy.

    The relationship between Lalong and Dalung has been frosty since the latter was appointed minister.

    It was alleged that the governor opposed the appointment because both hail from the same zone.

    Lalong has been avoiding the minister.

  • Minister caution youths against being used by Politicians

    Minister caution youths against being used by Politicians

    The Minister of Youth and Sport Development, Solomon Dalung has cautioned Nigerian youths against being used as cheap objects by Politicians.

    Dalung who said this Thursday at the inauguration of the third session of the Nigerian Youth Parliament in Abuja also said that if those who manipulate them believe in their future they should invest in them and not manipulate them.

    He said a deal of N1 million can do miracle in a rural area than giving somebody to go and mobilise people or using it to buy arms to cause trouble.

    “After the inauguration today you all must purge yourself from the act of manipulations and come back to your senses.

    “If I have collected money back in our days I doubt if I would have been given the opportunity to be Minister of Youth today and I challenge all youth leaders gathered here that after this session they should go back and reorganize themselves and I am ready to be part of them,” he said.

    He further said it is very sad that the Youth have also taken part in the drama of embarrassment and are now active participant in bringing shame and disgrace to Nigerian.

    “I challenged this August body that has resisted the temptation of not giving up due to much tension not to vote anybody who has given them money last night because such is buying you and if anybody has given you money to buy you, the person is not working for the Youth but the person who has sponsored him. We don’t want to inaugurate anyone into politics of money.”

    The outgoing speaker Youth Parliament Abba Waziri called on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver their campaign promises for the Youth as they keep pushing for the betterment of Nigerian Youth.