NSC, FRSC Strengthen Collaboration For Sports Development
As part of its core function of engagement and collaboration with sporting organizations to achieve the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to develop and advance sports in the country, the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko has assured the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) of the Commission’s readiness for partnerships and collaborations aimed at sports development.
The Chairman re-echoed this cardinal objective while hosting the Corp Marshal of the FRSC, Shehu Mohammed and his delegation on a working visit to his office.
“We believe in opening our doors and windows to see what we can do together so as to advance sports in this country. We also want to support sports for organizations to do more”, he emphasized.
Mallam Shehu was impressed with the FRSC female handball team’s performances domestically and continentally. With excitement, he affirmed that the team has been the shining light of the sport in the country.
He reminded the Corps Marshal of the agreement reached with FRSC’s sports committee during a previous visit, on the need to set up a Joint Collaborating Committee that will interface with a view to promote mutual relationship that will facilitate sports development.
According to Mallam Dikko, “We are being proactive and therefore we made provision for financial engagement in our budget to support any team or club that qualified to represent Nigeria in any competition, especially if they won the domestic League. We have the vision to do that.”
He further stated that as a sports regulator, the Commission is obliged to engage with any team representing the country at international matches. The Chairman emphasized that the leadership of the Commission will work together with the Corps to set up a mutually beneficial team that will create small projects outside of sports.
He mentioned the challenge of traffic control whenever there are international matches in the main bowl of the national stadium. Mallam Dikko solicited for FRSC partnership in this area to remedy this challenge to which the Corps Marshal proposed to set up a permanent unit at the stadium to also assist in managing traffic during all events at the complex.
He reiterated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR is very keen to see how the Commission can work together with organizations to move sports forward in the country.
Speaking earlier, the Corp Marshal of FRSC, Shehu Mohammed said he was in the Commission to first, congratulate the Chairman on his well-deserved appointment and to seek for ways of partnership and collaboration that will enhance the Corps’ sports teams’ growth and development.
He stated that sporting activity is an integral part of the officers’ daily life, especially being a paramilitary organization as it enables them to keep fit.
“If we do not engage in sports activities, we cannot give out what Nigerians deserve as safety of our roads and highways are concerned”, he noted.
As part of his visit, the Corp Marshal said the main thrust of the collaboration is to seek for advice and financial support where possible from the Commission. He assured of a strong partnership with NSC to advance sports in the country.
The highpoint of the visit was the presentation of a plague to the Chairman and commitment of the Corp Marshal to set up a permanent FRSC unit at the stadium complex for efficient traffic and crowd control during matches and events.
