The Akwa Ibom State government has launched investigation into the abysmal performance of the state contingent at the just-concluded regional sports festival organised by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
This followed allegations of embezzlement of funds meant for the athletes’ allowances and failure to provide sporting kits and other motivational aids for the athletes who participated at the competition.
Commissioner of Sports in the state, Elder Paul Bassey, has therefore inaugurated a five-man fact-finding committee to review the performance of the athletes during the maiden competition.
The Committee has Barr. Ime Akpan as its Chairman while the chairman of the state council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Amos Etuk; Dr. Promise Etim and Hon. John Ekpenyong are members while an Assistant Director in the ministry, Mr James James will serve at the committee’s secretary.
Inaugurating the committee at the conference room of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Elder Bassey explained that the mandate of the committee was to study and examine Akwa Ibom State participation in the Niger Delta Sports Festival with a view to advising the ministry going forward.
The sports commissioner gave the committee 10 days within which to submit their report, adding that “it will help the ministry to address shortcomings, develop sports at the grassroots and build human capacity in sports for effective representation.
Akwa Ibom team came 6th in the tournament with 9 gold, 14 silver and 14 bronze medals totaling 37, out of nine states of the Niger Delta that participated in the competition.
