The president of Nigeria Shooting Sport Federation (NSSF), Commodore Mohammed Sagir Shettima has gone to the minister of defence with a list of plans and needs for which they require support from the ministry, Sports247 reports.
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Commodore Shettima also sought support for physically challenged officers and explained the NSSF’s plans to host a maiden National Veterans And Wounded Soldiers Shooting Sport Tournament this year.
He stated this and more when he led the NSSF’s board members on a visit to the minister of defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (retired) at his office in Abuja, to greet the former chief of defence staff and congratulate him on his new appointment by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Shettima added that the visit also helped the board members familiarise themselves with the minister and inform him about the NSSF’s activities as well as create fresh avenues for productive partnership between the federation and ministry.
“Firstly, we want to see how to improve the welfare of our members as well as retired, wounded or injured military personnel. How we can leverage on the expertise of these veterans to cascade shooting sport to the grassroots level.
“We want to prioritize institutional identification to curtail arms proliferations, and partner with thr ministry to engage military veterans, wounded and or injured personnel as coaches, technical experts, referees, and judges, both for local and international shooting championships,” Shettima stated.
He also revealed plans by the NSSF to host a competition for veterans and wounded soldiers, which will be tagged General C.G. Musa National Para-Shooting Trophy Championship, in honour of the minister.
“This championship is designed to acknowledge and appreciate the distinguished service of our veterans, wounded, and injured soldiers, and to also acknowledge your immense contributions, both as a former Chief of Defence Staff, and serving Minister of Defence, to Nigeria’s defence sector.
“This, we believe, will promote shooting sport among veterans and wounded or injured soldiers, promote camaraderie among military personnel, and raising awareness about the welfare of wounded and injured soldiers,” Shettima disclosed.
NSSF’s head of communications, Eche Amos further disclosed that Shettima also sought support grom the minister and Defence Ministry for the federation to access a $20,000 equipment grant that has been blocked through lengthy bureaucratic processes.
He added that the NSSF also wants to procure more modern equipment and renovate dilapidated shooting ranges across the country – specifically Jaji Shooting Range and National Shooting Range located at Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
They are also seeking the inclusion of wounded and injured servicemen and women, both serving and retired, in the 2029 Invictus Games that Nigeria plans to host, as well as inclusion of wounded and injured soldiers in the 3rd National Para Games to be held in Abuja in March.
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