In a bid to have a drug free and fair sports festival, the Ogun State Government is seeking to reduce and completely eradicate the use of drug and its abuse among athletes as the State prepares for the multisport event.
Commissioner for Sports Development, Hon. Wasiu Isiaka, stated this while receiving the team from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), on a courtesy visit, led by the State Commander, Commander Tijani Rabe, revealed that the National Sports Festival is not just a national event, but also a tournament of unity and togetherness.
Hon. Isiaka submitted that the current administration was willing to collaborate with the NDLEA to achieve a common goal of having a drug-free festival, noting that sporting activities should be void of drugs and other banned or illegal substances.
He called on other relevant agencies to collaborate with the government, adding that a training session would be organised by the Ministry of Sports Development and the NDLEA for athletes.
“We would like to collaborate with the NDLEA so as to make the upcoming festival, not just the best the country has ever seen, but also the festival without drugs. The Ministry is looking for a deeper alliance with this agency, so that we will not have an athlete that would rely on drugs and become a national champion at the expense of others that are clean and played fairly”, he said.
Earlier, the State Commandant, Commander of Narcotics, Tijani Rabe submitted that though his Agency and the Ministry of Sports Development had been walls apart, the courtesy visit would initiate steps to bring the two institution together for growth.
He stated that the collaboration with the Ministry would be a game-changer to dissuade athletes, coaches and officials from the use and abuse of drugs, revealing that his agency was ready to train and re-train the state athletes so as to have a fair tournament.
“Tournaments must be done under a fair atmosphere, so that some participants do not use drugs to have advantage over others. If the collaboration works out, there won’t be any regret, rather, it would be the best Sports Festival that has ever been organized,” he said
Disu Ayobami,
Information and Public Relations Officer, Min. of Sports Development
