Covid-19: Nigerian athletes receive relief cash

Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has approved the payment of funds into the accounts of Nigerian athletes to provide some relief in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The payments which commenced Wednesday, April 29 is part of the N10 million donated by Remo Stars Chairman Kunle Soname and One million from an unnamed Nigerian as take-off of the athletes relief fund.

The Media Office to the Minister stated on Thursday that the N50,000 is being paid into the direct accounts of each of the athletes from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) account of the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.

Earlier the Minister had floated a relief fund for the athletes whose source of earnings had ceased as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic following the suspension of all major sporting events in the world. The World Athletics governing body two this week also took a cue from the Nigerian example by floating a $500m appeal trust fund to assist athletes in the wake of the suspension of major sporting events around the world.