Finally!something must be done......

Following the
disappointing outing by
the Nigerian contingent
to the just concluded
London Olympic Games,
President Goodluck
Jonathan has ordered a
total and
comprehensive re-
organisation of the
sport sector.
The Minister of
Information, Labaran
Maku, who announced
this to journalists at
the State House while
briefing them after the
weekly Federal
Executive Council (FEC),
did not comment on
officials who may be
affected by the re-
organisation.
"The President
accordingly directed the
organisation of a
national retreat which
will involve state
governments as well as
the private sector, to
re-order priorities in the
Nigerian sporting
sector," Maku said.
The Nigerian team in
1998 Barcelona Games,
won six medals; two
gold, one silver and
three bronze. At the
Sydney Games in 2000,
Nigeria also won one
gold and two silver
medals. In Athens 2004,
Nigeria won two bronze
medals, while the 2008
Beijing Games recorded
one silver and two
bronze medals.
In spite of about N2.2
billion naira released for
the London Games,
Nigeria could not
register her name on
the medal table, which
saw the United States,
China and the host,
Great Britain, emerging
first, second and third
respectively on the final
medal table.
Piqued by the shame
brought on the
country, the President
has signified his
readiness to be part of
the retreat.
"He said what took
place in London must be
the beginning of a new
momentum to place
Nigerian sports at a
level that will enable
this country return to
the glory it is known for
in the areas of sports,"
Maku explained.
"President Jonathan
believes that for us to
change the present
scenario, we need to
specialise; we need to
plan; and we need to
fund sports in a way
that this country will
continue to make
impact in the sporting
sector. He believes that
the next
Commonwealth Games
and the 2016 Olympics
in Brazil must enable
Nigeria set specific
targets and realise
them, in order to
promote our sports
development".
According to him,
Jonathan also called for
a new direction in
sports management.
"Mr. President
emphasised the need
for early planning,
better administration of
sports, as well as
funding, which he
believes can no longer
be left to the
government alone but
must involve the
private sector, to
generate sufficient
resources to return our
sports to it's glory,"
Maku said.
"In the next couple of
weeks, you are going to
see action in this area,
as we prepare to work
and ensure that Nigeria,
in subsequent events,
takes it proper place
within the continent
and globally in sporting
competitions."
The Sports
Minister, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, was
noticeably absent from
the post-FEC briefing.
Also, Maku said the
minister of Water
Resources brought a
memo to FEC, seeking
approval for a contract
to rehabilitate the
Obudu dam in Cross
River state. The
contract was awarded
at the cost of
N1.66billion.