National Sports Festival postponed over coronavirus

Sunday Dare

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the postponement of the 20th National Sports Festival (NSF), sports minister, Sunday Dare, has said.

In a series of tweets on Tuesday, Mr Dare said the festival tagged ‘Edo 2020’ was postponed as a precaution against the spread of the coronavirus.

“President Muhammadu Buhari approves the postponement of the National Sports Festival Edo 2020 as a precautionary move against COVID-19 spread,” he wrote.

“Following the briefing of Mr President from myself and the Minister of State for Health on COVID 19, Mr President approved the immediate postponement of Edo Sports festival to a future date.”

The 20th NSF was scheduled to kick off on Sunday at the newly-renovated Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin.

The competition, which was last held in December 2018 in Abuja and now billed to hold at the stadium and 16 other venues in Benin, was expected to end on April 1.