Nigeria’s Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to implementing the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) as part of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The NSIP, approved under the previous administration led by former President Muhammadu Buhari, aims to encourage corporate and private sector involvement in the country’s sports development.
Although the policy was approved, it was not fully implemented during the previous administration’s tenure.
In an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Enoh shed light on his strategies to attract private investors into the sports sector. He emphasised the need to leverage incentives proposed in a document submitted by a committee under the previous administration. This document outlines various incentives designed to stimulate different categories of investments, intending to bolster the involvement of the private sector.
Addressing the challenges faced by Nigerian football, especially concerning the local league, Minister Enoh stressed the importance of restoring credibility. He acknowledged past discrepancies, such as the exclusion of Nigerian referees in international events, stating, “Nigeria is a big country, and you can’t find that kind of situation and not respond to it.” He outlined the necessity of addressing issues like refereeing accuracy to maintain the league’s integrity and attract more spectators.
Regarding the marketing of the local league, Enoh emphasised the need for transparency to regain public trust. He stated, “To succeed in marketing the local league, one of the first things is to restore the credibility of the league, get refereeing right. Ahead of a match, people shouldn’t already know the result; it loses the attraction.”
Minister Enoh also highlighted the importance of private sector involvement in club ownership, expressing hope that the implementation of NSIP, coupled with appropriate government responses, would facilitate the transition from government-owned to privately-owned local clubs. He underlined the determination of the government to rejuvenate the sports industry and expressed confidence in the collective efforts leading to positive changes.
The Minister’s statements reflect a strong resolve to revitalise Nigeria’s sports sector, signalling a new era of collaboration between the government and the private sector to foster growth, transparency, and credibility within the local sports industry.
Kiki Garba.
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