BREAKING: ‘OUR SPORTS HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM NATIONAL SPORTS FESTIVAL’ – DISABLED SPORTSMEN CRY OUT TO BUHARI, DARE TO INTERVENE • blocks Stadium Underbridge
By Yomi Oyelami, Trek Africa Newspaper
One of the disabled protesters carrying a placard to show their grievance at National Stadium, Surulere underbridge
As if the challenges of disabled people in Nigeria are not enough, some people have decided to heap more sorrows on their pains. This is with the harsh decision to removed more than 80% of the para-sports from the National Sports Festival set to hold this year.
For this, Trek Africa Newspaper can report that the disabled sportsmen in Lagos have had enough. They have therefore blocked the Stadium Gate, Stadium Underbridge, and parts of the Western Avenue to send their grouse to the powers that be in the country. Their needs is simple, ‘restore our sports, we don’t want to go begging. We are able in our disability.’
One of the protesters who declined giving her name to Trek Africa Newspaper said ‘they are leaving about 5 out of over 20 para-sports in the National Sports Festival.’
‘Also they are bringing foreign-based athletes when local athletes are struggling to make ends meet in this country. We will not take it.’
They have called on the President Muhammadu Buhari and the Sports Minister, Sunday Dare to intervene in their plight. They told Trek Africa Newspaper that if they cannot participate in the National Sports Festival which is a good platform to keep fit and win laurels, then it becomes hard to compete favorably on the international stage like All Africa Games, Commonwealth Games, and Paralympics.
