Buhari approves reconstitution of Anti-Doping Committee’s governing board

By Franca Ofili

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the reconstitution of the governing body of the National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC), the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development announced on Thursday in Abuja.

Mohammed Manga, the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, in a statement, disclosed that the board was reconstituted to enhance the committee’s activities for the next four years.

“The reconstitution has become necessary in order to strengthen the anti-doping structure in the country, especially with the expiration of the four-year tenure of the immediate-past board since January,” he said.

Manga added that the board needed to be up and doing in order to ensure that Nigeria’s sports environment remain drug-free.

“This will help the country to maintain a clean international record in the war against drug abuse.

“We should not forget the consequences we suffered during the recent anti-doping crisis which brought our then fragile national anti-doping administration to an undesired limelight.”

The board’s new members include Prof. Kenneth Anugweje, Dr Femi Ayorinde, Emmanuel Omuku, Dr Godfrey Odigie, Mainasara Ilo and Dr Olusegun Akinlotan.

The rest are Omolewa Aduke, a representative of NAFDAC and Ms Fadeke, the CEO of the Anti-Doping Unit Secretariat.