BY SOLOMON OKPO
The Akwa Ibom State Government has initiated a sweeping review of sports administration, with the Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, openly criticising the prolonged inactivity of several sports associations and warning that urgent reforms are on the way.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ meeting in Uyo involving chairmen and secretaries of registered sports associations, Bassey expressed concern that many bodies had remained largely ineffective despite being operational for over eight years.
He made it clear that the state would no longer tolerate structures that fail to deliver measurable results, stressing that the planned reforms would prioritise accountability, improved performance, and administrative efficiency across all sporting disciplines.
“We cannot continue with structures that remain inactive and fail to produce meaningful results,” Bassey told participants, underscoring the need for a decisive shift in the management of sports in the state.
Despite the criticism, the commissioner reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Umo Eno’s administration to sports development under the ARISE Agenda, noting that the government remains focused on revitalising the sector and expanding grassroots participation.
The meeting, which had in attendance representatives from all 30 registered sports associations, provided a platform for stakeholders to highlight persistent challenges, including inadequate funding, weak administrative support, and limited access to modern training facilities.
Participants welcomed the engagement, describing it as a necessary intervention to reset the direction of sports development in the state. Among them, Amos Etuk commended the initiative as a strategic move toward consolidating ongoing efforts within the sector.
Other stakeholders, including Nse Essien and Samuel Umoh, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration between the ministry and association leadership, while also calling for sustained media partnerships to enhance visibility and drive grassroots sports growth.
The Ministry of Sports assured participants that all submissions and recommendations would be carefully reviewed and incorporated into a broader reform framework aimed at building a more vibrant, competitive, and results-driven sports system.
The session was attended by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Rosemary Ubia, directors, senior officials, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Akwa Ibom State Council, Nsibiet John, alongside other key stakeholders in the sports ecosystem.
