….Reiterates Government Support for Sports Development
By Joel Ajayi
The Desk Officer of the Benue State delegation at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF), Tse Cephas Tarbwe, has attributed the state’s absence from the match-past parade to logistical challenges.
It will be recalled that during the match-past on Sunday, Benue State was notably absent — a development that drew the attention of stakeholders and observers.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Mr. Tarbwe described the situation as a case of force majeure — an unforeseen circumstance that can affect any team.
“In sports, we all understand that force majeure can occur at any time,” he explained. “We began our journey as planned, and even deployed an advance team to participate in the parade. However, upon arrival, unexpected challenges emerged, forcing us to prioritize other urgent matters.”
He added, “It’s a long journey from Benue to Abeokuta. I was present here as well, but due to the situation, I had to remain outside. We simply had to focus on what was most important at the moment.”
Speaking on the efforts of the Benue State Government under the leadership of Governor Reverend Father Hyacinth Alia, Mr. Tarbwe reiterated the administration’s commitment to revamping sports infrastructure and promoting talent development.
“Since Governor Alia assumed office, we’ve adopted a holistic approach to sports development. Many of our facilities were in a state of disrepair, but contractors are currently rehabilitating them. The governor believes in building a solid foundation by first restoring infrastructure before expanding to other areas,” he said.
“For instance, in track and field, we brought only a few athletes due to the current lack of adequate facilities. But today, some of them have already begun warming up on this track — and that shows progress.”
Mr. Tarbwe emphasized that despite missing the parade, Benue State is fully participating in the Gateway Games, with a delegation of over 243 athletes and officials. He expressed optimism that the state would give its best performance and make a strong showing in its areas of strength.
