By Amaechi Agbo

Barring last minute change in plans, the Edo State Government has threatened to terminate the ongoing 20th edition of National Sports Festival, NSF holding at the state’s capital, Benin.

The Local Organising Committee, LOC of the festival disclosed Wednesday that it will abort the festival and end it by 12noon on Thursday, April 8, 2021.

In a release made available, Ebomhiana Musa, Project Manager, Media Communications for the festival, said that the need to abort the festival became inevitable due to lack of funds to continue the sporting activities .

The LOC blamed the federal government for not keeping to its promise to release fund to the Edo State Government for the festival.

The festival which started on April 4 is meant to last till Wednesday, April 14, 2021. But this might not be the case unless urgent intervention is received by the host state.

“The Local Organising Committee, Edo2020 regrets to announce that it will end the games abruptly tomorrow, Thursday, April 8, 2021 for lack of funds,” part of the statement read.

It added: “Rising from an emergency meeting this evening, (April 7) the LOC says it has to take this hard decision due to lack of funds having expended its reserves to kick start the games.

“Regrettably, the FG is yet to redeem its pledge to support us as the host state financially for the cost of postponements.

“So, we are left with no option than to end the games at noon tomorrow.”

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Sunday Dare disclosed two months ago that the Federal Government will offer financial assistance to the Edo State Government in hosting the National Sports Festival. This promise has not been fulfilled promoting the ugly development at the festival.

Recall that the NSF have suffered several postponments until it finally commenced last week.