By Our Correspondent

There is hope that the postponed 20^th edition of the National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Benin, Edo State capital due to the ravaging coronavirus also referred to as COVID-19 will hold this year, Bestchoicesports.com.ng can report.

The decision was part of resolution reached during a virtual meeting by the National Council of Sports held on Monday.

Despite divergent views by members of the National Council of Sports which held yesterday, the general consensus is that the Festival should be held this year.

Speaking during the virtual meeting chaired by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, contributors said although the COVID-19 pandemic was a source of concern, the sports Festival can go ahead if certain measures are put in place.

According to the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee Comrade Philip Shuaibu said “We are ready to host the Festival, but other states may not be ready. The issue of health is something that we all take seriously. Isolation centres have been further expanded to bigger capacity. We have set up many testing centres that would screen athletes before and after games.

The Minister Mr.Sunday Dare said ,” After more than more months of uncertainty, we need to chart a new course for our sports just like is been done globally. Our final decision will be based on consultations with the Ministry of Health and the National Task Force on Covid-19.

In his view, a representative of the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Sports, Mr. Paul Basset said” An health committee  should be set up to work with the NCDC and the Ministry of Health to determine the possibility of the Festival taking place.

While some members said the Festival should hold before the Edo State election, others said it should be held after the election.

The national Sports Festival was originally scheduled to hold from March 20to April 1, 2020.