Taiwo Adelu

Solomon Dalong

The newly appointed Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Barrister Solomon Dalong has told whoever cares to listen that he is not a novice in his new assignment.

Dalong, who had no background in sports, was one of the 36 ministers sworn-in by President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday to form his Federal Executive Council.

“I’m not a novice in sports, ” Dalong replied his critics at the dinner organised for victorious Golden Eaglets in Abuja Wednesday night.

“I know a lot about sports because I’m a sportsman in my school days. I will bring more values to Nigerian sports. I have been in the national service for a very long time and I have dedicated my life to this country. I’m happy that there is a good foundation that I will build on, ” said Dalong, who will also be the chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC).

Meanwhile, some Presidents of sports federations have congratulated the new Sports Minister and at the same time set agenda for him as he resumes in his new national assignment.

President of Nigeria Handball Federation, Yusuf Dauda, wants equity in the distribution of the resources giving to sports sector from the national wealth.

“The new Sports Minister should see all sports as equal. No sport should be given preferential treatment in this new dispensation, ” Dauda said.

To President of Nigeria Rugby Federation, Fom Edward Pam, the Minister should eradicate unnecessary civil service bureaucracy that slows administrative machinery at the sports commission.”I’m happy to see Dalong on board,” Pam said.

President of Nigeria Tennis Federation, NTF, Engineer Sani Ndanusa wants Dalong to focus on grassroots sports development. Ndanusa, a former Sports Minister said that there must be a deviation from the past with vigorous pursue of development of sports from the grassroots in the new regime.

“I sincerely welcome him and prayer is that God will guide his thoughts, ” Ndanusa said.

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