The National Sports Festival now has a new date reports The Gazelle News.com.
The festival will now hold between 14 and 28 February, 2021 in Benin City.
A statement by the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Gabriel Aduda, confirmed this.
“The National Council on Sports under the chairmanship of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare at an Extra- Ordinary Council on Sports Virtual meeting held today 15th December 2020, unanimously agreed to host the NSF 2020 on 14- 28th 2021,” the statement said.
Justifying the reasons behind the postponement from the initial date of 3rd-18th December 2020; the Minister explained to members of the Council that the need for better precautionary measures against COVID19 bearing in mind the expected influx of holiday makers during the festive period was the main reason the date was shifted.
According to the Minister, the decision to postpone the festival was a tripartite agreement between the Ministry, the Presidential Task Force on #COVID19 and the host state.
“Recall that the National Sports Festival tagged ‘EDO 2020’ was originally slated to hold early this year (precisely March) but for the outbreak of the #COVID-19 which necessitated the postponement and suspension of all sporting activities to guard against the spread of the coronavirus nationwide,” the statement said.