SOLOMON Dalung, minister of sports, will appear before the Senate Committee on Sports on September 25, to account for the funds given to him for the National Sports Festival and for conducting the just concluded sports federation elections.

Disclosing this to Sportinglife in a telephone chat, Obina Ogba, chairman Senate Committee on Sports, revealed that Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed worries over the number of petitions received daily over the conduct of the minister hence the need to invite him to clear some doubts and give an insights on what the ministry is doing to host the national sports festival.

Ogba stated that the Upper Chamber expressed concern over lack of activities in sports which would have been the best way to engage the youths and discover athletes for the future. “I can tell you that the Senate is in the dark over the activities of the sports ministry. I can also to tell you that all money requested to host the national sports festival was promptly appropriated and released but I can’t tell you what is holding it because every year we appropriate money for the festival. What I know that is happening in sports is crisis, protest and petitions.

“There is no day without petition. The World Youth games held in Bahamas, Nigeria didn’t take part due to visa hitches and the money appropriated for it no one can account for it and you sports writers are not asking questions. Look, our sports is gone and only miracle can bring it back under this minister,” he said.

Aug 11, 2017 @ 1:00 GMT