Sports
Group Accuses Sahara Reporters of Sensationalism Over N2.1bn NSC Budget Report
The controversy surrounding the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) budget allocation has sparked a heated debate, with the United Sports Stakeholders condemning Sahara Reporters for their “misleading headlines and sensationalism” aimed at tarnishing the reputation of the NSC leadership.
Jude Chukuma, the president of the United Sports Stakeholders, expressed his organization’s disappointment with Sahara Reporters, stating that the report “lacks journalistic ethics, is riddled with bias, and is an attempt to blackmail and rubbish the good work of the NSC leadership.” Chukuma emphasized that the NSC had already hosted the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State, and it was illogical to allocate funds for the same event in the 2026 budget.
“The Journalism ethics worldwide seeks to know the unknown by asking the right people, the right questions, unfortunately, this is what Sahara Reporters lacks,” Chukuma said. He questioned why Sahara Reporters failed to reach out to the NSC and the Budget Office for clarification, instead opting to speak with Ogun State officials.
Chukuma clarified that the N2.1 billion allocation was actually 70% of the N3 billion budgeted for the 2025 National Sports Festival in Ogun State, which was carried over to 2026 as part of the Federal Government’s directive to complete existing projects and manage spending pressures.
“The budget office only carried out a directive from Mr. President dated December 9, 2025, wherein the Federal Government ordered ministries, departments, and agencies to carry over 70% of their 2025 capital budget into the 2026 fiscal year,” Chukuma explained.
He advised Sahara Reporters to seek clarification from the Budget Office, stating that the N2.1 billion allocation was not for a new event, but rather a continuation of the previous year’s budget.
Chukuma’s statement has shed new light on the controversy, and it remains to be seen how the NSC and the Federal Government will respond to these allegations. Meanwhile, Ogun State’s Special Adviser to the Governor, Kayode Ogunmade, has dismissed suggestions that the state incurred debts from hosting the festival, saying, “We do not host events and then run into debts. We do not do things that we are not capable of.”
Sports
Montage Community Football Tourney Registration Ends October 30
Cyril Ogar
Registration for the 2026 edition of the Montage Community Football Tournament will close on Friday, October 30, organisers have announced.
The tournament coordinator, Mr Raphael Ekpang, disclosed this on Thursday, urging interested teams across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take advantage of the remaining days to register.
Ekpang said registration had been ongoing since Monday, encouraging eligible teams to complete the process before the deadline.
The tournament, themed “Montage FM 99.7: Empowering Youth, Uniting Communities Through Football,” is scheduled to kick off on November 3, 2026, with playoffs across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The grand finale will hold on December 5, 2026, at the Old Parade Ground, Garki Area 10, Abuja, where the top four teams will compete for first-, second- and third-place honours.
A total of 48 teams will participate in the competition, with eight teams representing each of the six Area Councils.
The participating teams will compete for cash prizes worth over ₦2 million and other valuable rewards.
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