Nigeria's Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh, has tendered an apology to Nigerians for Team Nigeria's disappointing performance at the Paris 2024 Olympics, which ends on Sunday. This marks the first time the country has returned without a medal since the 2012 London Games.
In a statement issued on Saturday night, Minister Enoh acknowledged that the team's performance fell short of expectations and objectives. "I must apologise to our compatriots and reflect on what went wrong while looking forward to the Paralympic Games, Paris 2024," he said.
Enoh explained that upon assuming office in August 2023, he faced the challenge of executing four international competitions within a short period. Despite the time constraint, he embarked on a progressive approach to drive forward the performance of athletes and coaches.
The minister highlighted the measures taken to prepare for the Olympics, including the constitution of a Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Committee and the approval of onshore and offshore training camps. He also noted that funds were not a limiting factor, with athletes' competition requirements and allowances paid early.
Enoh expressed puzzlement at the team's underwhelming performance and announced a review process to evaluate the competition readiness of every athlete, coach, and administrative staff. "We owe Nigerians an explanation," he said. "There must be lessons to learn from our performance, and improvements must be made in all ramifications."