The House of Representatives Committee on Sports has given Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) President, Engr. Habu Gumel, a five-day ultimatum to appear before them. This comes after the committee refused to meet with NOC members led by Vice President Chief Solomon Ogba, citing Gumel’s absence.
Committee Chairman, Honorable Ekene Adams Abubakar, stressed the need for Gumel to personally explain Nigeria’s preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games. Despite Chief Solomon Ogba’s attempt to excuse Gumel’s absence, the committee insisted on hearing from the president himself.
The committee’s move reflects President Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s commitment to sports and its impact on Nigerian citizens. They want to assess the NOC’s readiness for the games directly from its president.
“We need to hear from him about the preparation for the Olympics. The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has an interest in sports, and he demonstrated it in the one-year anniversary celebration. He wants to take the country to the next level using sports, which is a unifying factor in this country,” said Hon. Ekene.
The committee has asked the NOC to appear before the house by Thursday next week to brief them properly on the preparation for the Olympics. Anybody that comes on proxy will not be accepted.
This move highlights the significance of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s Olympic preparations. It reflects President Tinubu’s broader vision to leverage sports as a means of unification and progress for the nation.
As the deadline approaches, all eyes will be on Engr. Habu Gumel and the NOC to see how they respond to this ultimatum. The outcome of this meeting could significantly influence Nigeria’s strategy and preparations for the upcoming Olympic Games.
