Minister of Youth and Sports Sunday Dare has announced that Nigeria’s $130,000 debt to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will be repaid “in a few days”.
“I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. In a few days from now the funds should hit the account of the IAAF baring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained,” Dare announced on his official Twitter handle.
IAAF- I have approved the release of funds to refund the IAAF overpayment wrongly credited to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria. In a few days from now the funds should hit the account of the IAAF baring any interbank delays. With this Nigeria’s reputation is regained.2346:15 PM – Oct 23, 2019Twitter Ads info and privacy152 people are talking about thisDare’s announcement on his Twitter page on Wednesday, brings to a close one of the most sordid episodes in Nigerian sporting history which arose when the IAAF on May 17, 2017, erroneously transferred the sum of $150,000 to the accounts of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) rather than the statutory $20,000 due to all national federations affiliated to it.
The AFN failed to notify the IAAF of the overpayment nor return the balance of $130,000 to the world athletics governing body till date.
Former Sports Minister Solomon Dalung failed to ensure the reimbursement of the funds to the IAAF despite making a promise to the president of the IAAF, Sebastien Coe in August at the 2018 Africa Athletics Championships in Asaba to repay part of the outstanding balance.
Dare has now taken on the mantle to restore Nigeria’s severely impugned reputation with this development.
