The Ministry of Sports Development has denied an allegation by the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, Ekene Adams, that it allocated budget for the maintenance of the Kaduna State-owned Ahmadu Bello Stadium.
The ministry stated this after Adams expressed concern over the lack of sincere commitment by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh, towards Nigeria’s sports development goal.
Adams alleged the minister was not being “sincere” despite efforts by the committee to have a “smooth and good understanding” with him.
Ekene stated, “For example, why should the minister still allocate a budget for the renovation and maintenance of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in the 2024 budget after the stadium had been handed over to the Kaduna State Government?
”I think as the Chairman, House Committee on Sports, we have tried enough to have a smooth and good understanding with the minister but he is not being sincere with us.”
However, the ministry, in a statement on Tuesday signed by its Director and Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Mrs Kehinde Ajayi, denied Adams’ allegations, saying the House Representatives member’s comment was “a clear demonstration of his ignorance of the state of affairs within the sports sector and how out of touch he is.”
In the statement titled ‘Hon. Ekene Adams lied against the Honourable Minister of Sports Development, the ministry stated, “For the avoidance of doubt and to set the records straight, no budgetary provision was made for the renovation and maintenance of Ahmadu Bello Stadium in the 2024 appropriation
Having acted in such an undignified and unparliamentary manner in the pursuit of his vendetta, we fear that this sad commentary has the consequence of bringing to public odium and ridicule, the image of the legislature as an institution. This is sad.”
The statement added that Adams also got his facts wrong over the N12bn Federal Government’s intervention fund to the sports ministry.
“The allegation of opaqueness in the disbursement of the N12bn Federal Government’s intervention fund by the ministry is spurious and untrue,” the statement added.
“First it is difficult to understand which N12bn he is referring to. If it is close to N12bn that Mr President intervened for outstanding debts owed various male and female football national teams, the Honourable Member should have been aware that the Honourable Minister instituted a new accountability and transparency process to ensure prudence in the management of the fund.
“He should have known that, although the entire money was released to the Ministry of Sports account, at the Honourable Minister’s directive, the entire sum was fully transferred to the account of the Nigeria Football Federation, the appropriate body that incurred the outstanding debts, and this can be verified. Everyone in both the ministry and the sector acknowledged and applauded this move as an uncommon display of transparency.”
When our correspondent reached Adams for his reaction, the House of Representatives member said the minister would be invited on the issues raised by the House Committee on Sports
He said, “I’m from Kaduna, if I say there was a budget for the stadium, I know what I’m saying. I respect him (Enoh). But I won’t say much. I only called his attention. I have the power to invite him to the House, and I will invite him soon, so why should I join issues with him when I have the power to invite
him?”
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