From Dabur Nabem, Benin City
The ongoing National Sports Festival in Edo State has been partially shutdown.
The Deputy Governor of Edo State and the Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the games, Philips Shaibu, who stated this during a press briefing at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin Thursday said LOC office was shutdown by 12 noon.
Regretting lack of commitment from the federal government, the LOC chairman threatened to shutdown the LOC, the games and the food vendors should the Federal Ministry of Sports fail to show commitment as the state alone can no longer feed the athletes.
Responding to questions from sports writers, the deputy governor informed that surprisingly, Edo State Government is not aware of how much President Muhammadu Buhari, has approved for the games to enable them even borrow from the bank to sustain the festival.
He denied that politics is being played for non release of funds and attributed absence of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, at the opening ceremony of the games to poor weather condition which could not allow his aircraft land.
