As the federal government Thursday lifted ban on contact sports, there are indications that the 2020 National Sports Festival, NSF might still hold this year if planned meeting by the National Sports Council which will hold in Lagos this week sanctions it.
In a letter dated October 7 and signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Gabriel Aduda, and sent to all state sports ministries and sports commission, the 2020 National Sports Festival is one of the items for discussion.
“I write to invite you and the Director in charge of Sports in the Ministry/Commission/Council to the Meeting of the National Council on Sports convened to deliberate on the National Sports Industry Policy, the 20th National Sports Festival and other sports related issues. The meeting is scheduled for October 22 and 23 October in Ikeja, Lagos State,” the letter read.
The National Council on Sports comprises the sports minister, Sunday Dare, who is the chairman and all commissioners of sports or their equivalent from the 36 states of the federation and the secretary in charge of sports in the Federal Capital Territory.
The NSF, which was earlier scheduled for March 22 to April 1, was postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19.
The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 however announced the lifting of the ban placed on sports with effect from October 19 at its press briefing on Thursday in Abuja.
The event schedule in the letter states that the technical session, which will be chaired by Aduda, with PS of sports ministries in the 36 states in attendance, will hold by 2:00pm October 22, while the council meeting takes place by 10:00am the next day.
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