President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered that no government official and members of the National Assembly must embark on a jamboree trip to Brazil for the Rio Olympic Games on the account of the government.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports, Chinyeaka Oha, made the disclosure while appearing before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports.
Oha argued that the paucity of fund for the Games necessitated the presidential directive.
Reacting to the inquiry from the Reps committee member on how the ministry intended to accommodate them, especially in line with their statutory obligation of oversighting the foreign and local camping of the Team Nigeria athletes, Oha, who represented the Minister of Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung, doubted the possibility of accommodating the among the Nigerian contingent.
Although he did not speak elaborately on it, Oha said: “We have been directed by Mr. President that anybody who does not have any business in the Rio Games should not be part of the continent.
“As you all aware, it has to do with the paucity of fund occasioned by the general economic situation in the country.”
The Permanent Secretary also revealed that there will be no chartered flight for Team Nigeria and the officials, arguing that since many of the individual athletes and teams such as basketball are already outside the country, it would be more economical to make traveling arrangements with some airlines.
Oha noted: “On the issue of flight, you know that some of our athletes and teams like the basketball are already outside the country, so there is no need to arrange a chartered flight for Team Nigeria.
“We are however already discussing with some airlines like Air France among others to lift those in Nigeria.”
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