Thelma Osatohanmwen
The Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has reaffirmed the government’s decision to implement the National Sports Industry Policy (NSIP) as a key component of President Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
During an interview with ARISE News on Monday, Enoh shared insights into his plans to attract private investors to the sports sector following the government’s decision to implement the NSIP.
Disclosing that the NSIP, approved by the previous administration was not fully implemented, the former Senator hammered on the importance of utilizing incentives outlined in a document proposed by a committee from the previous administration, adding that the incentives aim to encourage investments in different areas and strengthen private sector engagement.
Speaking on tackling the issues plaguing Nigerian football, particularly the local league, Enoh emphasized the significance of restoring credibility.
The Sports Minister acknowledged previous shortcomings, such as the exclusion of Nigerian referees from international events, stating, “Nigeria is a big country, and you can’t find that kind of situation and not respond to it.”
He highlighted the importance of addressing concerns like refereeing accuracy to uphold the integrity of the league and attract a larger audience.
Enoh also added that in marketing the local league, transparency and rebuilding the public trust is important.
“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,” he said.
The minister stressed on the importance of private sector involvement in club ownership, adding that he hope the implementation of NSIP, along with government support, will facilitate the transition from government-owned to privately-owned local clubs.
This, according to him will go a long way in showing the government’s determination in reviving the sports industry and their confidence in the collective efforts leading to positive changes.
