By Barnabas Augustine
A storm has erupted around the Nigerian Olympic team after it emerged that cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye was forced to beg for a bike from her German counterparts to compete in the Paris Games. The revelation has triggered a firestorm of criticism, with many questioning the nation’s sporting preparedness.
Ukpeseraye took to social media to vent her frustration, highlighting the shocking lack of equipment provided by the Nigerian sports ministry. This damning indictment has put the spotlight firmly on the government’s alleged negligence.
However, the sports minister, John Enoch Owan, has moved swiftly to deflect blame, insisting that the cyclist’s claims were exaggerated and misleading. He asserted that Nigeria had initially qualified for just one cycling event – a road race – and had equipped the team accordingly.
“Abinitio, Team Nigeria qualified for one road race in cycling and prepared for it in terms of training and the appropriate competition equipment,” John Enoh clarified.
The minister claimed that a last-minute, unexpected qualification for the keirin and sprint events threw the team into disarray. With insufficient time to procure the specialised track bikes required, they were left with no option but to seek external assistance.
Owan admitted the situation was far from ideal but insisted that the government had acted as swiftly as possible under the circumstances. Critics, though, remain unconvinced, suggesting the episode is symptomatic of deeper problems within Nigerian sports administration.