The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shaibu is still upset by the refusal of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 to allow the 2020 National Sports Festival hold this month as earlier proposed by the National Council on Sports.
This was disclosed in a statement released by the Ministry of Youths and Sports development after the recently held Extra-Ordinary Council on Sports Virtual meeting to give an update on the 2020 National Sports Festival.
The meeting revealed that the proposed date of December 3-18 was upturned by the PTF which observed the need to ensure safety of all the athletes and officials by adequately putting up awareness campaigns on the risk of COVID-19.
However, the Edo Deputy Governor who doubles as the Local Organizing Committee Chairman is said to have commended the sports minister’s diplomacy in handling issues but expressed displeasure with the way PTF has so far managed the sports festival and the COVID-19 issues.
Shaibu, therefore, requested for support for Edo State in view of the fact that the state had put in so much on the festival which has suffered so many postponements.
A new date of 14th -28th February 2021 was presented and approved by the Council as well as the host state.