Ahead of the 2016 Rio Olympics, President Muhammadu Buhari has warned all lawmakers aspiring to be part of the Nigerian contingents to the Rio Olympic Games to stay back in the country if they don’t have any business to do in Brazil.
This was contained in a statement by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Chinyeaka Ohaa when he appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports to brief it on the country’s Olympics preparation.
According to the statement, the President gave the directive as a result of lack of funds for the event.
Ohaa, who represented Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, was uncertain if the funds will be able to cover the cost of accommodating the lawmakers along with the Nigerian contingent to the Rio Olympics.
Speaking further, Ohaa said; “We have been directed by Mr President that anybody who does not have any business in the Rio Games should not be part of the contingent,” Ohaa said.
“As you are all aware, it has to do with the paucity of fund occasioned by the general economic situation in the country.”
The permanent secretary further stated that there would be no chartered flight for the Nigerian athletes and the officials to the Games, noting that many of the athletes and teams are already outside the country.
He however assured the committee that the sports ministry are already in contact with some airlines to carry the Nigerian delegates to Brazil for the Olympics.
“We are already discussing with some airlines like Air France among others to lift those in Nigeria,” he said.
The lawmakers then resolved to meet with the minister of finance, the accountant-general of the federation and the budget office on Monday, for briefing on the release of funds for next month’s Rio Olympics.
