— New sports minister absent at budget defence
Barely three months to the kick off of this year’s World Cup in Brazil, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has revealed that its planned budget for the Mundial will take cost nothing less than N2 billion.
Briefing members of House of Representatives Committee on Sports, NFF secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu, who appeared before the committee alongside other NFF top officials to defend its annual budget for subsequent approval at House harped on the need for more budgetary allocation to the federation to enable it execute various competitions which Nigerian teams are scheduled to participate in.
Apart from the 2014 World Cup Finals being hosted every four years with the Super Eagles booking their slot among other countries, the Nigeria’s U-20 women team, Falconets have secured their place in this year’s FIFA U-20 women World Cup in Canada. Also, their U-17 counterpart, Flamingoes who are currently in Portugal will in a matter of days connect Costa Rica, venue of the women cadet World Cup Finals.
There are qualifier engagements involving Super Falcons, Flying Eagles and U-23 men’s team.
Barr. Amadu hinted the House Committee led by Hon. Godfrey Gaiya: “The total expenditure for the World Cup has been put down to 2,084,053,765 naira with 1,254,164,329 naira coming from government, while the balance of this amount will come from sponsors and fund raising events. And so, we expect that one point, N2bn will come from the government, while the football house will source the balance of the money to ensure a smooth outing for the Super Eagles at Brazil 2014.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles who are appearing for the fifth time at World Cup Finals are drawn against Argentina, ran and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first round of the 2014 World Cup, which kicks off in Brazil on June 12.
During the budget defence which lasted for about two hours, the director-general of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, in the absence of newly appointed sports minister, Dr. Tamuno Danagogo, led principal officers from the commission to speak extensively on the general financial appropriation needed by the NSC and its parastatals.
