The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has in its custody a letter of petition from some special athletes over the exclusion of some of their sports from the 21st National Sports Festival, Delta 2022.
It is unfortunate that these protests have led to public disturbances and the disruption of the peace in some parts of Lagos, hampering the flow of traffic in the process.
It is also important to state that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, after much deliberations and planning approved the following:
1) Setting up of a special Department for Para Sports in the Ministry.
2) Organisation of the first National Para Games in April 2022 where 16 Para Sports were competed for by 21 States of the Federation and some sports clubs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
3) Ensuring there was no discrimination in the treatment of athletes, able or special, in terms of welfare, camping conditions, remuneration, and other areas, in all international competitions.
The Ministry, hereby, urges and advises against any further disruption of public peace and calls on anyone with complaints to channel them through the appropriate authorities and seek the path of dialogue.
Hindering the right of other citizens to free movement is unlawful and unacceptable, especially after the earlier engagements of the Ministry’s Liaison Officer in Lagos and other well-meaning sports personalities.
The Ministry further urges the relevant security agencies to handle the situation at hand with care and in accordance with the law.
