News Star Editorial
U–17 World Cup scandal: Let heads roll now
Gradually, with the reversal of government’s initial decision not to host the 2009 U-17 FIFA World Youth Championship and the emergence of other topical issues in the news like the victory of Senator Obama in Unites States of America and the N2.4b car purchase scandal in Nigeria’s House of Representatives, the focus of Nigerians have indeed shifted from the global shame and embarrassment slammed on the country by unscrupulous sports administrators and their scandalous N35.5b budget estimate for the tournament.
With these distractions, the Nigerian government in its notorious sloppiness and indecisiveness may simply begin to look away or even sweep the situation under the carpet and drift along. Hardened sports administrators who presided over the 1999 Under –21 World Youth Championship hosted by Nigeria and all African Games [COJA 2005] may continue to luxuriate in their personal fiefdoms guaranteed by their longevity in the corridors of sports as they proceed to ‘manage the N9b budgeted by government for the U-17 tournament.
It could be recalled that the Local Organizing Committee [LOC] had made a mind –boggling proposal of N35.5b as budget estimate for the U-17 World Cup. Following Government’s rejection of this budget as far too high, the LOC promptly offered to reduce it by about 60%.
For experienced sports administrators to collect such a scandalous budget proposal for a tournament in which FIFA would be footing the bill for accommodation of all the team calls for an urgent probe. Besides various state governments are upgrading facilities of approved stadia within their domain.
Investigations have revealed that most of the items contained in the controversial N35.5billion budget estimate had already been taken care of.
The Lagos State Government is upgrading the Teslim Balogun Stadium. All contracts for upgrading Gateway Stadium, Ijebu –Ode have been awarded by the Ogun State Government. Cross River, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu and Kaduna State Governments have made similar enthusiastic moves to ensure that sport facilities in their domains are in perfect condition.
Now, for people who know the workings involved in organizing FIFA events where facilities, accommodation, broadcast rights and flight tickets have been settled, to draw up such a huge budget for the developmental tournament calls for detailed questioning.
Government should demonstrate decisively that it has both the desire and will to effect the needed drastic changes in all areas where corruption is noticed.
It should be ensured that the N9b budgeted for this project is placed in the hands of decent Nigerians who will understand the enormity of the responsibility thrust in their hands and not those who capitulate to either selfish or social interests.
And for those who tried to get the football governing body FIFA to sanction Nigeria for pulling out of the event, government must fish them out and deal with them as subversive elements and economic saboteurs.
The Presidency should raise a team of private sector operators, particularly those who are ready to partner with government in sponsoring the tournament, to map out ways in which our economy can maximize the gains of hosting the international audience expected to grace the games. We need to also ensure that infrastructural facilities that will be built as part of preparations for the game are enduring and can later benefit the society as a whole. It cannot be overstressed that the process of handling funds meant for the games should be transparent and all contracts to be awarded should not only follow due process but also work done must commensurate with money disbursed for it.
This is the right pace and path of development any responsible government should follow.
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