The National Council on Sports (NCS) has approved the postponement of the National Sports Festival (NSF) again from Jan. to Feb. 14 – 28, 2021 in Edo State, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Gabriel Aduda, announced in Abuja.
The Council, under the chairmanship of the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare, at an Extra- Ordinary virtual NCS meeting on Tuesday unanimously agreed to the postponement.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the ministry had in Nov. announced the postponement of the Festival from Dec. 3 – 18, to Jan. 3 – 17, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, making the new dates the fourth time the fiesta would be postponed.
The minister explained to the NCS that the postponement was because of the need to ensure better precautionary measures were taken against COVID-19, bearing in mind the expected influx of holiday makers during the festive period.
Dare said the ministry, the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 and the Host State had all agreed to the postponement, in order to put in place all COVID-19 protocols.
NAN reports that the Festival tagged ‘EDO 2020’ was originally mooted to hold in March 2020, but was postponed due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
