Buhari Set To Release Olympic Funds

The Ministry of Youth and Sports will receive its budgetary allocation for the Rio Olympics on Wednesday.

The Director General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, gave the assurance on Monday.
Akabueze made the statement at a meeting the House Committee on Sports held with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Account General of the Federation, the Nigeria Olympic Committee and the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation at the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja.
The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung, however, assured that the Ministry had done its best in preparing 78 athletes for 10 events despite the non availability of funds.

In his response, the Director-General stated that his office had a budgetary allocation of N600 million for the Olympics, N415.6 million for preparations of Olympic and Paralympic Games and an allocation of N184.6 million to the Nigeria Olympic Committee to facilitate the games proper, out of which the ministry had sought the release of N503,977,710.
The Olympic village opens to athletes on July 24, while the opening ceremony is billed for August 5 2016.