BEVERLY HILLS, December 16, (THEWILL) –Â The Nigerian National Sports Festival (NSF), earlier postponed from December to January due to concerns surrounding the health and safety protocols of COVID-19, has been postponed again.
This latest, in a string of postponements, was approved by the National Council on Sports (NCS) effectively moving the NSF again from January to February 14 – 28, 2021 in Edo State as announced by Gabriel Aduda, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, in Abuja.
At a virtual NCS meeting on Tuesday under the leadership of the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, the Council, unanimously agreed to the postponement.
In November, when the Ministry postponed the dates for the Festival from December 3 – 18, to January 3 – 17, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was the third such postponement as this was an event originally billed for March 2020. This latest announcement makes it the fourth.
Dare, in acknowledgment of the series of date-shifting, explained that this became necessary because of the need to ensure higher precautionary measures were taken against COVID-19 which was seeing another rise in cases, taking into consideration the expected influx of holiday makers during the festive period.
The minister noted the unanimity of the ministry, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the host state in agreeing with the need for this latest postponement, so that every means necessary is taken to adhere to all COVID-19 protocols.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
