The establishment of the Para Sports ministry has been set aside to put smiles on the faces of disabled athletes after the exclusion of the special sports athletes from the 2022 National Sports Festival, Asaba 2022.
The director of press and public relations, Mr. Manga Muhammed, said at the weekend that, before the federal government took its decision on the exclusion of para sports at Asaba 2022, a solid plan had been made to cushion the effect of the Sports Ministry’s action.
Manga added that, “It’s most unfortunate that some disabled athletes will take to the streets of Lagos to protest the way they did especially on a matter which the sports ministry had planned for positively.
“We recognised the fact that the Para Athletes are very important to the success of the country sports, and there is no way, the Sports Ministry will jeopardise its chances in doing great in international championships by just making an announcement without making proper plans ahead.
“These protests have led to public disturbances and the disruption of the peace in some parts of Lagos, hampering the flow of traffic in the process. The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has in its custody a letter of petition from some special athletes over the exclusion of some of their sports from the 21st National Sports Festival, Delta 2022.
“It is also important to state that the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, after much deliberations and planning approved the following:
1) Setting up of a special Department for Para Sports in the Ministry.
2) Organisation of the first National Para Games in April 2022 where 16 Para Sports were competed for by 21 States of the Federation and some sports clubs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
3) Ensuring there was no discrimination in the treatment of athletes, able or special, in terms of welfare, camping conditions, remuneration and other areas, in all international competitions.
The ministry, hereby, urges and advices against any further disruption of public peace and calls on anyone with complaints to channel them through the appropriate authorities and seek the path of dialogue.
Hindering the right of other citizens to free movement is unlawful and unacceptable especially after the earlier engagements of the ministry’s liaison officer in Lagos and other well-meaning sports personalities.
The ministry further urges the relevant security agencies to handle the situation at hand with care and in accordance with the law.
