Nigeria’s preparation and participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics will cost over N12 billion, according to the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh. The Federal Government has approved the substantial budget to ensure that Team Nigeria is well-prepared for the games, which will take place from July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France.
Senator Enoh highlighted that the approval of this budget by President Bola Tinubu underscores the importance the administration places on sports development. “The President has practically demonstrated and justified why he created a separate ministry for sports development,” Enoh stated.
The minister emphasized that the entire budget for the Olympics was approved as submitted, reflecting the administration’s commitment to supporting Team Nigeria. “Every request made to fund our competitions, including preparation and participation, has been approved by Mr. President. We commend and thank him,” Enoh added.
In addition to the federal budget, the House of Representatives has also approved N100 million to support Team Nigeria’s participation in the Paris Olympics. Enoh clarified that this additional funding will go directly to the athletes. “We will look at various allowances and how we can increase them with the amount approved by the House of Representatives,” he explained. “It is not going into preparations for the games. When I visit the camp in Germany, I will announce this to the athletes to motivate them.”
While Enoh did not set specific targets for Team Nigeria, he expressed his aspiration to win as many medals as possible. Drawing positive signals from the training camp in Germany, he mentioned that Team Nigeria aims to surpass their best performance from the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, where they won two gold, one silver, and three bronze medals.
The minister also extended his gratitude to the media for their support and for ensuring comprehensive coverage of the ministry’s activities and achievements over the past year.
With the substantial financial backing and the commitment of the athletes and officials, Nigeria is poised to make a significant impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
