NSF 2018: Bayelsa State Athletes Protest Over Inadequate Funding

BAYELSA STATE ATHLETES PROTEST OVER INADEQUATE FUNDING. By Hananeel Jackson Bayelsa State athletes and coaches today took to the streets of Yenagoa to protest the  non-release of funds for the National Sports Festival in Abuja, with barely ten days before the commencement of the festival. The protest started from the Samson Siasia Stadium to the Bayelsa state Government House. Leader of the group and Chess player Mr. Bomo Kigigha  said the essence of the protest was not to ridicule the government but an appeal to the State Government over the little amount of fund released  for  both camping and the National Sports Festival which  according to him would not be enough for the festival. Some of the athletes who spoke to BSN Sports correspondent said the state government only approved Ten million (N10,000,000) naira  which is inadequate for the festival, maintaining that previously athletes  get five thousand (N5,000) Naira as camp allowance rather than the one thousand (N1,000) naira earnmarked for the athletes presently. Reacting to the development, Commissioner for Sports Mr. Perekiye Buruboyefe urged the athletes to be patient, stressing that the government would look into the mater.. The national sports festival will commence from 6th -16th of next month in Abuja, the nation's capital.