As the countdown to Asaba 2022 National Sports Festival begins, Gowon Akpodonor looks at the state of facilities being put in place
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday officially flagged off the 21st National Sports Festival by lighting the Torch of Unity at the Statehouse Garden, Abuja. Photo/TWITTER/NIGERIAGOVThe flag-off of the Torch of Unity Movement by President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday officially signalled the countdown to the 21st National Sports Festival tagged ‘Asaba 2022.
He explained that sports have remained a unifying platform for Nigerians and the government will continue to invest in it. The Sports Festival will hold from November 28 to December 10, and Okowa was optimistic that the facilities would be ready for the athletes, though he expressed some worries. The ‘slow pace’ of work notwithstanding, Okowa expressed satisfaction with the quality of work done saying: “The work being done is good, all I ask is that they add speed to it. I am told that they work day and night now. I hope that yields result and take us through the finishing of the project by November 18.”
“The beauty of it is that the government and people of Delta State are installing brand new facilities for the National Sports Festival. The tartan track, which was used for Asaba 2018 Africa Senior Athletics Championship has been removed completely and a new one is being put in place.