8th November, 2014
Senate President David Mark has promised the athletes and officials at the Nigerian School Sports Federation (NSSF) that authorities will provide maximum comfort to ensure success of the festival.
He made the promise on Friday night when he inspected the accommodation facilities in the hosting city, Otukpo, Benue.
Represented by his wife, Mrs Helen Mark, the senate president expressed concern about the arrangement of accommodation facilities and promised to ensure that urgent measures were taken to improve the facilities.
He said the government would have postponed the event but the present administration was committed to sports development and allowed it to hold.
“President Goodluck Jonathan, being a loving father who wants the best for the children and considering that some states are already here while others are on the way, he decided to allow it to go on.
“Now, I have seen what is on ground, I will convey the message to him and I want you to believe that he will do all that is possible to provide the best comfort for all at the games,” Mark said.
NSSF President Ibrahim Mohammad thanked Mark for coming to the games village to assess the level of preparation.
He said more states had yet to arrive in Otukpo, observing that their arrival would increase pressure on the existing facilities.
Mohammad said there was need to increase the supply of basic amenities such as water and affordable cost of feeding.
NAN reports that the initial problem of accommodation had relaxed as some participants from other states had been accommodated.
The festival will hold between 6 to 16 November at Jesus College, Otukpo.