Chairman, Main Organising Committee of the 20th National Sports Festival, Nebeolisa Anako, says sports minister Sunday Dare’s “special appeal” saved the festival from being shut down midway into the competition.

This is coming after the Edo State Government announced that it would put a stop to the competition on Wednesday due to lack of funds.

However, after an emergency meeting between the state, Dare and Presidency officials, the issue was resolved, with the FG promising to offer financial backup for the completion of the event.

“The festival suffered several postponements due to COVID-19 and other unforeseen circumstances, which we had no control over,” Anako, who also doubles as the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, said in statement.

“The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, as the organisers of the National Sports Festival, could not sit by and allow things to go wrong. The minister had to make a special appeal, which led to the intervention of the Presidency, with an assurance of financial support to the Edo State Government, which is in its final processing stage.

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“The Games are not under threat. There was an information gap earlier, but the Games are ongoing and we assure you there won’t be any hitches till the closing ceremony of the National Sports Festival.”

Anako added, “We saw a very great opening ceremony and look forward to a grand closing ceremony as well.”