Buhari rewards U-16 football team with N2m each after 31 years

“It gladdens my heart to play host to our athletes who have made the nation proud at various global competitions”, said President Buhari.

A mild drama, however, ensued as Buhari in error announced rewards of N200m each for the players but was later corrected by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, saying the sum is N2m and not N200m.

Nigeria’s world English language scrabble champion also got N1.5million.

Nigerian wrestlers who emerged champions at the World Wrestling Championship just before the 2015 All Africa Games got N1.2m each, just as N600, 000 and N450, 000 cash gifts went to victorious gold and silver power lifters.

Head coach of the team, Samson Siasia was rewarded with the sum of N500,000 for leading the team to the trophy and also qualification for the football event of the 2016 Olympic Games.

Members of the 2015 FIBA African Women Championship, where Nigeria won silver medal, got N400,000 each, coaches went home with N400,000 and while team officials got N150,000 each.

She said, “The President’s speech and many other things had been concluded before we returned with the gold medal”.

President Buhari also paused for a moment of silence for the late Kingsley Aikhiobare, a member of the U-16 boys who died in 1996.

He said: “It is a well-known fact that so much water has passed under the bridge between 1985 and now”.

“In line with our belief that the labour of our heroes past should never be in vain, we want to say thank to our 1985 Golden Eaglets for the success”.

“As you are all aware, the financial resources of our nation have been dwindling since previous year”.

Did didn’t honour the promise because he was ousted as President through a coup before he could honour the promise. I wish to assure the federal government will not relent in its efforts to ensure our sports men and women continue to excel in global competitions.

He urged the managers of the sports sector to keep up the momentum. Our sour experience at the London 2012 Olympics Where Nigerian athletes failed to make it to the podium.

“On our own, we are government of change and in our capacity, we will do everything possible to ensure that we provide the necessary support needed for more successes”.