Hardship: Protect sports infrastructure – SWAN President tells protesters

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, SWAN, has appealed to protesters to be mindful of mostly sports infrastructure across the country as any form of destruction will further create a needless deficit.

Making the call on Wednesday in a statement by the National President,

Isaiah Benjamin, SWAN urged Nigerians, mostly youths and sports personalities to toe the path of peace and dialogue, instead of engaging in violent protest regarding the challenges facing the country.

The call is coming on the heels of planned protests by some persons in parts of Nigeria, beginning August 1, 2024.

Benjamin, in the statement which was signed on his behalf by the association’s Secretary General, Ikenna Okonkwo, said while citizens have a right to protest, such should be done peacefully.

“Instead of embarking on the destruction of lives and properties, citizens should reflect on positive and progressive moves aimed at ensuring improved sports development, which has obvious potential to uplift the country’s economy,” Benjamin pleaded.

“As the second most economically viable option in the entire world, Sports serve as a catalyst for needed growth and development in any society.

Sportsmen and women including athletes, officials, administrators and of course, the sporting media, have the responsibility to lead the way in terms of conduct and influence in various residential and public places.

“Instead of joining any bandwagon of destructive tendencies, let us encourage fellow Nigerians to engage in sporting activities in terms of physical exercise and other areas of gainful endeavours,” he said.

The number one sports writer in Nigeria, also admonished leaders at all levels to, in line with global standards, use legislative means to initiate sustainable policies that will loosen tight ends and clear bureaucratic bottlenecks, which had hampered sports development in the country.

He asked that Nigeria, as a developing nation, be made a fortress for talent discovery and development because of the abundance of human capital resources that abound in each of its nooks and crannies.

“Again, the government at all levels should do more in the provision of sporting infrastructure at the grassroots, as a veritable way of engaging mostly the young people, because sports, with the right funding approach, has enormous potential to drastically reduce unemployment.”