Thursday, 20 June 2013
“Nigeria Should Have Budgeted More Money for Olympics” – Sports Ministry
Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi
By SaharaTV, New York
In the wake of Nigeria’s embarrassing performance at the just concluded London Olympics, Julius Ogunro, a top aide to Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, has argued that the country should have provided more funds for the games.
Mr. Ogunro, a media aide to Minister of Sports Bolaji Abdullahi, made the statement in an exclusive SaharaTV interview on Saturday, August 18. The aide was responding to questions about the reasons behind worst Olympic performance in over 20 years.
Many Nigerians are outraged that their government spent about 2.2 billion naira ($13 million) to send 51 athletes to the London Games and yet failed to come away with a single medal. Asked to comment on the N2.2 billion Olympics budget, Mr. Ogunro said, “If we had had much more money, earlier than [the time that they received the funds], we would have invested it much more appropriately.”
However, the aide lamented that the lateness of the funds’ disbursement and the lack of preparation might have been more serious factors than the money itself. He added, “Even if we got one billion dollars, we still would not have achieved much.”
Mr. Ogunro disclosed that the intense training for Nigeria’s athletes did not start until two to three months before the start of the London Games.
Mr. Ogunro claimed that the lateness of funding, negative aspects of Nigerian culture, and the attitude of athletes were all factors that contributed to Nigeria’s poor performance at the Olympics. He called the past medals that came to Nigeria at the 1996 Olympics as “chance.”
The ministerial aide stated that Nigeria did not have anything close to the funding enjoyed such top performing nations as the United States and China. Saying that he did not want to “apportion blame,” Mr. Ogunro blamed Nigeria’s poor showing at the Olympics on systemic failure.
Nigerians on social media reacted angrily to Mr. Ogunro’s explanations for Team Nigeria’s disastrous performance. Irked by Mr. Ogunro’s comment that the ministry should have had more funds to prepare for the games, some commentators reacted with such words as “rubbish” and “nonsense.” Several commentators also suggested that huge chunks of the 2.2 billion naira probably fell into the hands of corrupt officials.
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rJWhtxlNbUhNeGdtaXL
Submitted by Auth (not verified) on October 26, 2012 - 23:51.
Can you believe the French? They are sainyg we are underhanded!Allow me to be the first (or maybe 5 thousandth) to say:Have some of that you spineless sweaty, fois grass, frog legs and snail munching, whinging little tw@ts!Bend over and take the very large erect British sausage of victory and bite your shite smelling tongues!Oh good luck for 2016
Nigeria Should Have Budgeted More Money for Olympics
Submitted by Yakamasaki (not verified) on September 2, 2012 - 17:43.
"Nigeria Should Have Budgeted More Money for Olympics"
You're right Minister,however,the team should have done a little better!
The Goverment spend more money to Bandits in Delta ("Billions of Dollars"_ Wall Street Journal) than any thing that will bring Glory to the Nation.
Corruption is a D... worst than cancer!
Iro nparo fun ro (Lies
Submitted by AKA (not verified) on August 21, 2012 - 18:28.
Iro nparo fun ro (Lies telling lies to lies).
Thank you for nothing. Jonathan and the sport minister MUST resign immediately. Not only for wasting the money but also for letting their father land down!
Only a bastard will fail his father and going on smiling.
A thief wants more to stealjt
Submitted by Kool (original) (not verified) on August 21, 2012 - 10:02.
He that is unfaithful in little will be unfaithful in much. OLE! BARAO!
CONGRATULATIONS
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 21, 2012 - 09:52.
Nigeria can never make impart in any International programs. People are on that field are not Those that PICKED to run the affairs of SPORT do not KNOW anything about SPORT. SPORT MINISTER should be from EX FOOTBALLER
BOKO HARAM IN THE BANK
Submitted by JOKES (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 21:47.
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MINISTER AND A CORRUPT
Submitted by Ifeanyi Okoye (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 19:33.
How can a person in his right senses ask for more without showing any result for that given to him. I cry for my country being administered by non-enTities.
Wrong focus
Submitted by Moore (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 18:47.
Nigerians priorities is misplaced. Government attention should be in this order: Food, Jobs, Security of life and properties, provision of social amenities like electricity, good roads, reduce corruptions, sound education. After all these, then sports can come as a private entity from the government. This guy agitating for huge government funding has a misplaced priorities. 80% of Nigerians wants better living. I suggest government should provide the environment for jobs.
NIgeria is not a poor country
Submitted by kosoko (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 17:40.
I feel very bad when i read or hear about Nigeria classified as a poor country by Nigerian.
Do we know what it takes to be regarded as a POOR country.
Is it that we have so many Universities and yet so ignorant?
We have what it takes to be great. It is our choice to remain like this and until we realise this, we will stay doomed.
God will never come down to help Nigeria. Even Israel is taking actions to solve their problems and not waiting on God.
Wake up people.
From Kosoko in Canada
Corrupt Minister with a moron as aide !
Submitted by tundemash (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 17:06.
This Sports Minister's aide just buttress my point that corruption made Nigeria fail at the Olympics and not past administration as Mr. Fake Lawyer OC has been wanting us to believe.
Sports is juts one sectors among others that has failed' Security, Education, Roads, Agriculture, Health have failed and no matter how much you throw at it, as long as these rogues are there with morons as their aides, they would continue to swallow the money !
CORRUPTION TALKING LOUD
Submitted by ette (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 16:40.
This is corruption talking very loud because competition in govt now is how to steal more and more without blinking eyes. Tell the corruot minister to state for us how the N2.2b was used so we can assess whether there was efficiency. He should also state how much countries like South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia and other African countries whose names were on the medal table spent on the event. See what directionless govt is causing this nation for if nothings works how could we have won any medal. God he'll us.
A BUDGET DOUBLE THAT OF THE WHOLE CARREBEAN NATIONS
Submitted by osita DIOKA (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 15:42.
This guy is simply saying that he did not get enough of the olympic loot.I am sorry for Nigeria,we are lying to ourselves,the truth is that no characteristics of a nation exists here,we are pretending to be a country.
Misplaced priorities
Submitted by Alexco (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 15:28.
Why are we argueing about the mishaps of the Olympics. This event should not be a priority. People live in abject poverty and yet we are spending millions of dollars in Olympic games. We are poor and we should spend such amount in simply providing housing, education, food and other needed benefits to the poor masses. Some countries that are richer than us sent less than 10 athletes to the game. There is no need to impress the world. If our leaders are proactive and inelligent they would have tapped Nigerian born European and USA trained athletes to represent us. This plan would have been cheap and the result probably would have been impressive.
Load of fatuous nonsence
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 15:22.
We have heard all these excuses and what needs to be done before. After the Beijing Olympic, these same things were said yet nothing happened in London Olympics. I bet you, Rio Olympics will be worse because those in government won't invest anything. They'll not waste time to share any money for investments. Just bring it along and see what these wolves will do. So much unneccessary excuses...Blueprint, process, result, template etc. ...These are loads of fatuous noncense. The level of corruption in Nigeria is alarming and that played out at the olympics which the world saw. Did Ethiopia and Kenya invest N2.2 billion? This bloke is a stark illiterate. I hate when these blokes come here and speak as if we always accept what they say. I wish I could slap a hell off his face from here.
What a garbage guy
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 15:11.
It's a shame if this guy is one of the people involved as one of our officials in the development of sports and atheletes in nigeria. All these punk is doing is making all kinds of excuses and innuendos and comparing our lack of preparation with the big powers , u.s.a and Uk, what a morone giving away moronic answers all geared towards saving his job. Jonathan please do somthing for the sake of the nation and fire all of them and let's start afresh. It seems like nigeria has a culture of excuses excusses without taking any kind of responsibilities for her actions and idiots like this are very incompetent with his so called boss to man up.
OFFICIAL EXCUSES ... EXCUSES ... EXCUSES !
Submitted by SilentObserver (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 14:34.
One wonders who these so-called aides think is fooled by their lame excuses all the time? What is the correlation between funds and the number of medals? I bet the Kenyans did not spend up to a fraction of what we spent! The issues with Nigerian sports are more fundamental and until addressed, such shameful performance will continue to befall Nigeria. While these clueless officials are busy offering excuses for their failures, other countries are getting back on the board and putting deep thoughts into lessons learnt from their last outing and how they may improve in Rio in 2016. The current leadership of the Sports establishment lack the required will and focus to make the necessary change. Maybe Nigeria suspend her participation for the 8 years with a clearer agenda and roadmap? Anything short of that, we will only be discussing another poor outing in 2016. As often said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting different results"!
SINGLE MEDAL
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 14:05.
THE MINISTERS DOES NOT GET IT , EVEN IF HE WENT WITH $26 MIL HE STILL WOULD HAVE NOT COME BACK WITH A SINGLE MEDAL. YOU CAN'T BUY IT AND YOU CANT BRIBE TO GET ONE. THE COUNTRIES THAT CAME BACK WITH MEDAL WORKED HARD FOR IT. THE AMERICAN THAT PLAYED BASKETBALL FOR NIGERIA SAID HE DOES NOT KNOW WHERE NIGERIA IS YET HE COMPETED FOR NIGERIA, HOW DO YOU EXPLAIN THAT.MR MINISTER YOU DID NOT SPEND ALL THAT MONEY GOING TO LONDON CAUSE IF YOU DID THAT'S A PROBLEM AND YOU NEED TO ADDRESS IT . YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER OFF SPENDING THE MONEY THAN DECEIVING THE COUNTRY THAT YOU WERE GOING FOR OLYMPICS.HAVE YOU HEARD THAT PRACTICE MAKES ONE PERFECT OR CLOSE TO IT .
Jonathan, the clown: continue
Submitted by AnonymousJJC-3 (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 13:46.
Jonathan, the clown: continue doing as you have been doing. Budget more funds for foods and drinks than for sports. Continue living a life of lies and continue fooling yourself that you were elected by Nigerians.
The members of national assembly: ride on, boys and girls. Most of you were rigged into office, so you have the right to behave as you do now. You have no reason to love Nigeria. Continue doing as you do - do not release any funds for sports unless you get %50 cut of the funds.
The members of the Nigeria sport teams: remain discouraged and do not show up for training. Or seek out other nations that will take your talent serious.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Submitted by chinonso (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 13:28.
Congratulations Nigeria. The IOC(International Olympic Committee) has finally agreed this morning, to include CORRUPTION as an Olympic sport.
While there is great jubilation in Abuja at the Senate chambers, House of Reps - National Assembly, Presidency and all Federal and State Ministries over this long awaited sport, some countries have moved to stop the inclusion of the sport (Corruption) as an Olympic sport.
The reason for this move by some nations to stop the inclusion of the sport is that the sport of corruption is not well developed in their countries. The greatest apprehension though, is that some countries like Nigeria have got the sport so developed that it would set a new world record at every event.
The Nigerian government has, in its usual proactive style, sent a delegation to "see" all members of the IOC privately so that the decision to include the sport is not reversed.
Up Nigeria!!!
OLE. Look at his flat head
Submitted by maris (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 12:47.
Look at this thief called Bolaji. Look at his mango head. Yoruba thief. Your head have not spent the last money allocated to you, you still want more. This ministry are so crazy after money that they don't know saharareporters is out to expose them. See as this Mumu just come fool himself. I hope he reads this. EKPA, MUMU, OLOCHI, ODE, OLORIBURUKU. You will all die one day
It's lack of planning, not money
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 12:43.
It's all about lack of planning not money. If you don't plan, all the money in the world will not make any difference. Nigerian officials are synonymous with lastminute.com
The same old rubbish!
Submitted by Oni (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 12:39.
South Africa, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tunisia, Morocco, Algeria, Uganda, Gabon, Botswana, Egypt, all won at least 1 bronze medal.
All these medal-winning nations combined didn't spend $14 million towards the Olympics as Nigeria did yet it bagged naught medals.
Omo Ole
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 12:37.
He should first tell us what he did with the $13 million he was given. Omo ole.
Nigeria at 2012 London Olympics
Submitted by Faithfulness Bets Abia (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 12:08.
It is very sad that the really issue is not talked about as to why Nigeria has been under performing in the world sporting events such as the just concluded 2012 London Olympics. Nigeria has lots of talented men and women, the huge problem is the so called "Federal Character" which the team is mostly based upon. . Corruption has eaten deep into the Nigeria system. The idea of merit is an issue of the past, the Nigeria team is made up of those who knows who and those who are ready to use their links to be part of the Team. Those who are supposed to represents the country and bring home medals and glory are left behind because they have no godfather to advocate for them. There are smaller countries with less than half of Nigeria population and less amount of money as Nigeria that took home medals. Another issue is preparation,
Nigeria and Olympic
Submitted by Isaac Uwhokori (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 11:49.
All Nigeria delegates were more interested coming to London than the interest of winning medals
where its happening
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 11:21.
its happening at www.160bits.com , rush down there and see why everyone is talking 160 bits...
we made history
Submitted by okstin (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 10:38.
At least Corruptgeria made history at the
Olympics. We set our own style of World
Records by losing by the highest margin in
in an Olympic Basketball game. Records are records.
Next topic plz !
Too bad
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 10:35.
Uganda and Kenya spent far less than Nigeria, yet they came home with Gold, Silver and Bronze, interestingly with new world record. Shame on these guys
Four years in advance (part 2)
Submitted by AigJay (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 10:04.
...We also do not have institutions. The minister of sports can claim he has only spent 1 year as minister and truth be told that is not enough time to train world beaters. But the question is what the civil servants in the ministry or national sports commission are doing?
We build our institutions around people (politicians) that are just passing through. They eat and steal for 4 years then leave (note the ministers typically spend shorter tenures). The new ones then come in and scrap all what the last set have managed to do. We need to change our attitude for progress in this country.
Four years in advance (part 1)
Submitted by AigJay (not verified) on August 20, 2012 - 10:04.
He is right on some things. The nations that won medals started preparations at the end of the last Olympics. For instance, Great Britain (GB) already have athletes that they are grooming to perform in Rio in 2016, while China starts selecting and training athletes at a very tender age.
He is also right about the funding: Funding in GB is £125 million every year (£25million for each of the main sporting bodies). 75% of this money comes from their national lottery and the government gives 25%. So $13million just some months before the games is not adequate.
However, the truth is that the people in-charge of the helms of affair in all aspects of our nation are clueless at best. I guess the sports guys were content in stealing big chunks of the $13million than complaining years ago that Nigeria needed to start preparation early.
