Charles Ogundiya 
..Insists sprinter must compete in event
..As AFN heaps blame on NOC
Sports Minister, John Enoh, has threatened any officials culpable in the administrative debacle that led to sprinter Favour Ofili’s non-registration for the 100 metres event.
The reigning Nigeria 100m queen, Ofili, had raised the alarm yesterday on discovering that her name was not on the list of competitors for the 100m event.
The sprinter wrote on her social media handle: “It is with great regret that I have just been told I will not be competing in the 100 metres at this Olympic Games. I qualified, but those with the AFN and NOC failed to enter me.
I have worked for four years to earn this opportunity. For what? “Please remember, in the last Olympic Games, I was not able to compete because AFN, NADC and NOC failed to release funds for athletes to be tested, which made 14 Nigerian athletes qualified to not compete.
Now this… “If those responsible are not held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future! Next one is the 200 metres.
I hope I’m entered.” Miffed by the development, the minister said that he would not take it lightly with anyone or group of people responsible for the exclusion.
“Upon hearing Ofili’s distress this morning, I reached out to AFN. The Technical Director, Samuel Onikeku, stated categorically that Favour Ofili was registered for the 100m, 200m, and the 4x100m relay,” Enoh said.
“As Minister of Sports, I will not tolerate this utter recklessness. It is highly inexcusable, and there will be thorough sanctions after investigations into where and from whom this gross negligence originated.”
The current way of operating the Federal Ministry of Sports Development does not allow for incompetence at any level. “As an immediate measure, the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee must ensure that Favour Ofili is not deprived of the opportunity to compete in the races for which she is qualified and registered to represent the country at the Paris Olympics.
She is committed to proving her mettle.” Onikeku’s stance did not align with an earlier statement from an unnamed official.
“Ofili should have found out the reason she was not registered for 100m but 200m from the Technical team and her coach. 200m event is the core area of her strength”, he said.
