Nigeria: Minister Approves Land for Kada Gold Medalists

David Ngobua

5 May 2011

The Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has rewarded athletes and officials who won gold medals for the territory at the 16th National Sports Festival held in Kaduna, KADA 2009 with plots of land.

Disclosing this yesterday to Trustsports, FCT Director of sports, Mallam Alim Musa said the minister’s gesture is a way of motivating the athletes for optimal performance at the forth coming National Sports Festival in Port-Harcourt.

He explained that the approval of land for the athletes is in fulfillment of the pledge made to them shortly after they returned from the 2009 National sports festival in Kaduna.

Alim said arrangements are in top gear for the minister of FCT to host the victorious athletes where cash reward and certificates of land allocation would be handed over to them.

He maintained that the reception will double as farewell party for the athletes who would be representing the FCT at the 2011 Garden City Games.

According to him, the gesture would definitely ginger the athletes to put in their best knowing fully well that their efforts would not go without commensurate reward.

“I can confirm to you that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Senator Bala Mohammed has graciously approved plots of land for the 25 athletes and 16 officials who won gold medals for the territory at the last National Sports Festival in Kaduna.

“Although we got only eight gold medals, the number of beneficiaries is high because most of the gold medals were won in team events. For instance, football has 15 players and accompanying officials.

“This gesture would go a long way in motivating the athletes who are presently preparing for the next National Sports Festival. There is no athlete that would not put in his or her best to win more medals now they know they would be adequately rewarded”, he stated.

Alim in addition disclosed that FCT will compete in 18 events at the 2011 National Sports festival just as he said a total of 180 athletes would vie for honours for the territory.

The director of sports said gave May 22 as the date that FCT athletes would go into closed camp to conclude training for the National Sports Festival.

“We are going into closed camp by May 22. By then we must have concluded our Inter-Area Councils Sports Festival where we hope to discover more athletes for the next National Sports Festival”, he stated.

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