The FCT Permanent Secretary, Chinyeaka Ohaa, has said hosting the 2018 National Sports Festival (NSF) would boost the economic potential of Abuja and add colour to its image.
Ohaa stated this in Abuja while inaugurating a 15-man committee on the Festival, saying the committee was to ensure a hitch-free and successful hosting by the federal capital city.
“This event (the NSF) will add colour to our city, boost the image of the FCT as a sports-loving territory and grow our economy.
“The FCT Administration is privileged for FCT to be chosen as hosts of the 2018 National Sports Festival after several failed attempts to host the event in other states of the federation,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary noted that while the FCT was not the event’s full host, it is still a major partner as the Administration has been assigned key responsibilities.
He identified the committee’s terms of reference to include: provision of security, transportation and Games services.
“Although the hosting is not entirely the responsibility of FCT, we have been charged with the task of taking care of four major areas as the major partner.
“The areas are security, opening and closing ceremonies, Games services and transportation. These are out of the 17 major areas concerned with the hosting of the festival.
“This is a huge and enormous task which must be undertaken with seriousness and all sense of responsibility,’’ Ohaa, who is also the committee’s chairman, said.
The committee’s Vice-Chairman, Oladimeji Hassan, thanked the FCT Administration for the honour to take part in such a national assignment and promised that the members would deliver on the mandate.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that other members of the committee are: the Secretary of Education; Secretary, Health and Human Services; Secretary, Transportation; and Secretary, Area Council Services.
Also on the committee are: the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC); FCTA Director of Information; the Chief Press Secretary to FCT Minister; Director of Treasury; and Director of Security.
The rest are the Director of Sports, Director of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), Director of Facility Management and the Chief of Protocol.
NAN reports further that the festival is billed to hold in Abuja from December 6 to 16. (NAN)
