The National Council on Sports of the Nigerian Sports Commission, has removed Rugby and Shooting from the 22nd National Sports Festival scheduled to be held in Ogun State.
The Independent Mirror reports that the Council has also ruled that subsequent editions of the festival will be held between November and May.
Rising from an extraordinary meeting yesterday in Abeokuta, the Council—which comprises Directors of Sports from all 36 states of the federation and the FCT—decided to drop Rugby from the list of events for the NSF in Ogun because it was not contested during the zonal eliminations concluded last month across the country.
An official told The Independent Mirror from the venue of the meeting that Shooting was also dropped because the host state, Ogun, said it does not have the facilities to stage the event.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday unveiled the logo, theme song, and mascot for the 22nd National Sports Festival, tagged “Gateway Games.”
Represented by his deputy, Noimot Oyedele, at the event held at the cinema hall of the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta, the governor called for the understanding and cooperation of all Nigerians to make the event a success.
The National Sports Festival is scheduled to take place in the second week of May 2025, with all 36 states and the FCT expected to participate in the 22nd edition in Ogun State.
