The Director-General (DG) and Chief Executive officer (CEO) of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has appealed to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on sports infrastructure in Nigeria.

Shaibu who is the immediate past deputy governor of Edo state, said sporting activities in Nigeria are at the lowest ebb.

Shaibu, a former Edo State House of Assembly majority leader and ex-member of the House of Representatives made the plead when he received in audience members of the All Progressives Congress South South, FCT Chapter, in his Abuja office on Monday.

The NIS boss said President Tinubu sees sports as a veritable tool for unity, and in the sporting eco-system that will help in engaging the youths meaningfully.

He further said that a 10-year working plan has been designed for the Institute in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.

“The president has given us a mandate to take NIS back to where it use to be as a centre where best hands in sports are trained.

“Also, the president has identified the sports sector as an area of economic diversification and youth engagement.

“So, our infrastructure is nothing to write home about. All our infrastructure is dilapidated. Except Akpabio stadium in Uyo today, no other in this Country can host FIFA matches. That means, if Uyo is bad today, Nigeria will be playing their matches outside the country.

“Sports need urgent attention so that Nigeria can take it’s place back as a sporting nation which in turn will boost the economy,” he said.

The leader of the visiting group, Abdulwahab EKaide, commended the DG for the good work he is doing in NIS, and requested him to be their patron.