Shaibu Calls for Probe of Past Sports Ministers Over Neglect of National Institute of Sports

By Reporter

The Director General, National Institute of Sports Philip Shuaibu has accused past ministers of youth and sports development of running down the institute through years of what he calls “deliberate neglect.” Shaibu is therefore calling on the National Assembly to probe the alleged mismanagement that left the once proud institute in ruins.

The Institute which was commissioned in 2007 by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the NIS was created to train and develop Nigerian coaches, athletes and administrators but years of poor funding and absolute neglect left the institute in ruins, until President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Comrade Shaibu the DG to revamp the institution, who after carefulbbriefing has come to the conclusion that the neglect was intentional.

“With what I have seen now, it was deliberate by the ministry to destroy NIS for their selfish interest. Every Agency of government has it’s purpose, NIS purpose was to follow the ministry to organize it’s tournament and products from the tournament are returned to NIS for training, it was what it was meant for—well structured, that is why I am calling on past ministers of sports to account for their role in the destruction of NIS.”

He accused past ministers of youth and development of abandoning the NIS revealing that even the 200 rooms athletes hostels has been taken over by non -sports occupants

“That structure you are seeing there was 95% completed when former president olusegun obasanjo opened the Athletes Development Centre. That structure was meant to camp Nigerian athletes. It was not meant for what it’s being used for now.

“Somebody is collecting money from it, somebody knows that the structure is not meant for what is being used for. Sadly, ministers upon ministers have come and gone. Go there now it is not used for athletes camping, different kinds of people, some have no business with sports but are living in that structure.”

Shuaibu is calling on the National Assembly to probe the role of past officials in the institute decline.

“That is what has been lacking in Nigeria sports because NIS was grounded by the ministry. The National Assembly as a matter of urgency, should call all past sports ministers from 1999 to date to probe them on their roles in making sure that NIS that was supposed to be the engine room of sports producing sports men, women and coaches was grounded.”

Shaibu said his focus now, is to restore the NIS as Nigeria’s engine room for producing champions.

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