…Engr. Habu Gumel: Nigeria yet to establish WADA Act
By Hillary Asemota
The Minister of Sports, Senator John Owan Enoh on Thursday pledged to put anti-doping strategies in place that will holistically ensure Team Nigeria’s cleanliness in all international and local competitions.
The strategies, the Minister said will be in line with WADA global guidelines.
He also reiterated that in line with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) guidelines, Nigerian athletes will come clean in all it’s local and global competitions.
Enoh, gave the assurance in his office at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, when he met with the members of the Nigerian Olympic and Anti-Doping Committee.
In the meantime, Engr Habu Gumel has reminded the Minister that Nigeria is yet to establish WADA Act of Parliament into law just as he appealed to the Minister to use his good offices to ensure that the bill is passed into law.
Owan, stated that the aim of the meeting is to acquaint him with first hand information about the challenges confronting the Committee as regards
to the WADA guidelines’ compliance with a view to addressing them for the development of the sector.
Enoh, stated further that the interaction was one of the series of strategies he is taking to holistically ensure clean participation of Team Nigeria in all international and local competitions in line with WADA global guidelines.
He explained that President Bola Tinubu is very passionate about sports development in the country, not only to serve as a recreation but more importantly, to ensure inclusiveness, security, poverty alleviation as well as job creation through sports.
“The President created the Ministry of Sports Development and appointed me to saddle its affairs so as to ensure the realisation of the administration’s policy objective.” He said.
The Minister informed that he will deploy all necessary steps to ensure correctional measures are taken to meet up with the timeliness of WADA rules and regulations, as well as other critical corrective actions that will address extended non conformity and general important issues to avoid the country’s lack of adherence being questioned.
He tasked the Committee to draw up programmes that will support government towards domesticating the United Nations Convention into law and ensuring that other requirements needed for adequate compliance with Anti Doping are met.
This according to him will ensure cleanliness of our athletes during championships, reminding them to continue to support the efforts of the present administration in its bid to develope the sector for economic growth especially, considering the fact that they are key stakeholders in the industry
Speaking earlier, the Chairman of Anti-Doping Committee, Prof. Ken Anugweje, stated that the engagement was conveyed to provide for better opportunity to acquaint the Minister with the challenges confronting the agency which hinder its efficiency such as lack of training of personnel, insufficient manpower as well as inadequate funding with á view to finding lasting solutions to them.
He applauded the wisdom of the President for creating a Ministry of Sports Development and appointing a colossus administrator to saddle its affairs.
Anugweje, assured that the Committee will support the efforts of the Federal Government in ensuring clean participation of her athletes in all her competitions in line with the WADA guidelines.
He commended the Minister for the efforts he is making to reposition the sector, the President, Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), Engr. Habu Gumel reminded the Minister that the country is yet to establish the WADA Act.