Dark clouds are hovering over the 2022 National Sports Festival scheduled for November 28-December 10 in Asaba, Delta State.
As of Tuesday afternoon some of the major facilities like the running track, indoor hall, hockey pitch are far from being ready for use, even as the local organising committee officials are keeping sealed lipes about whether there would be a postponement or not as time is running out.
To make matters worse Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa who is supposed to be breathing on the necks of his lieutenants to deliver results has not been in Asaba for about a week. He is consumed by poliliticking being the running mate of Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate Abubakar Atiku.
It was gathered that Sports Minister Sunday Dare spent much of last weekend in Asaba, trying to get assurances on the completions of the facilities, but none was forthcoming. More worrisome is the fact that work in some cases have become difficult following unforeseen circumstances such as the crane incident at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Stephen Keshi Stadium recently.
“Apart from that; the laying of the tracks is suffering delays because some sections already laid are gathering bumps,” said a source.
“They have to spend hours removing it and then try to relay it again. The tracks may not be ready for use before the opening ceremony on November 28.
“So far nobody is telling us about postponement. It remains to be seen what will happen within the next few days, because basically speaking, nothing is ready.”
