…Minister Inspects Facilities ahead of National Sports Festival
…praises Edo state government
BY FOLUSHO ALADE
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, MR. SUNDAY DARE, says Edo State is ready for the 2020 National Sports Festival.
The Minister who is in Edo state, ahead of the National Sports Festival (NSF) to ascertain the level of preparations for the national event.
Speaking to journalists on Friday after he undertook an inspection of the hostel accommodation for athletes for Edo 2020 in Benin the state capital, DARE praised the Edo state government for the turnaround in facilities within a few months adding that they have raised the bar high for hosting of sporting events in Nigeria.
In his words: “We started from the stadium, we looked at a section of the stadium today. We had already looked at the other part earlier when I said it was 90% ready, when I came the last time it was just rafters for the gym, we have seen that everything is almost set, by Sunday or Monday that place will be fully ready.
“We have seen the hard court, Ogbe hard court is ready, we have seen the main bowl itself is ready, Saturday we will test the tracks by our athletes beginning from 3 pm, it almost means that it is ready. I think we couldn’t ask for more.”
On the level of preparedness to mitigate the spread of the novel Corona virus also known as Covid-19, the Minister said, “I think beyond the bricks-and-mortar, beyond the tracks, the buildings , the hostels, the other thing they’ve done so well is containing the spread of the virus.
“As we speak, I know they have received 8500 sanitizers, the total number they’re expecting is 12000 sanitizers, as we speak I know they have designated 15 entry points for screening, so if you’re coming from the North, if you’re coming Lagos, the first point of call just like the entry points at the airport is the screening point.
“That screening point you also get the package of literature and sanitizers and then you get your accreditation done. One Stop Shop.
“They’ve done tremendously well I’m sure tomorrow when they start the daily briefing on medical preparedness for the next six days you will understand the level of work they have done beyond the brick and mortar.” DARE said.
The Minister however expressed hope that the competition would throw up talents for the country for future sports events.
The National Sports festival Tagged “Edo 2020” will be held in Benin City, capital of Edo State from the 22nd of March to 1st of April 2020.