Sports as a tool to boost security, curb societal vices, and social re-engineering was on the front burner as the National Sports Commission and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), office of the National Security Adviser, met to forge collaborations fostering mutual interests.
Speaking while hosting the NCTC delegation at the NSC Headquarters, NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko highlighted the importance of sports to break the barriers, eliminate fault lines, unite the nation and deepen security in the country.
The NSC Chairman buttressed the need to deploy sports as a platform to engage the youths positively, provide hope and curb societal vices.
To this end, the Commission is pursuing aggressive sports infrastructure upgrades across the country.
“We are having meetings with the state governments and representatives of ALGON to see how we can develop more facilities across the communities in the country as a way of boosting security.
He continued, “Sports unite us as a nation. When Nigeria plays, we all forget where we come from, the language we speak or where we worship. Everyone is a Nigerian and unites to win. The collaboration between NCTC and NSC is key to boosting and deepening security in the country.”
Earlier, the National Coordinator of NCTC, Maj. Gen. Adamu Garba Laka advocated for the NSC collaboration in five fronts, namely, sports-based youth engagement programmes; capacity building for coaches and athletes as mentors in communities; sports competitions to check extremism; availability of sports infrastructure as venues for community outreach and joint campaigns highlighting sports as an alternative pathway to security.
The parties agreed to continue to work together in collaboration to enhance the delivery of their respective mandate.
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