Opinion

STRATEGIES OF SHEHU DIKKO IN SPORTS

Published

2 years ago

January 17, 2025

Felly Mammah

Chairman, National Sports Commission Alh. Shehu Dikkos says that everybodys positive impute in sports will place the sector in an enviable platform that will make it a reference point globally more so, as the country has energetic and vibrant boys that are the dream of most African countries and the admiration of the world.

The scripture asked a rhetorical question that “can two work together accept they agree”? This question seems to have been answered by the body language and gestures of both the Chairman of the Sports Commission Alh.Shehu Dikko and the Director General Mr Bukola Olapade. The subtle smile on their faces in every gathering shows compatibility expected to put same smiles on faces of Nigerians who have long desired workable transformation in the sports sector. The ease in the gesture of these sports administrators speaks volume that with togetherness a goal can be scored either through penalty shootout, from corner, from free kick or directly.

Their visit to President Bola Tinubu led by the Chairman recently, eulogizes the truth that the President maintains his stand and commitment for Alh Shehu Dikko to saddle the mantle of leadership in the sports sector. Pictures taken during their visit to the President captured a right choice made by him to have selected Shehu Dikko to manage Sports Commission going by his statement ‘Shehu, I am happy with u and see u on the Television’. This statement further explains his expectation for making the right choice and choosing the right persons with like minds to effect changes in sports sector.

Both the Chairman and the Director General have verse experience in sports as an added advantage that will enable them manage their shortcomings. Part of the reason for their presidential visit led by the Chairman, was to present both their strategical and action Road map plan to the President, which includes the plan to create a sports economy, infrastructure development and the National Sports Festival.

Among their desirous plea was for the President to respectfully, declare Sports as a National assets to be backed by necessary legislative frame work for proper development.
Alh. Dikko explained that part of his major challenge as expected by Nigerians is to turn sports around completely from what it use to be, to new world of competition likend to global expectation. He also, wants to xtray the possibility of achieving three Rs which includes resetting peoples thinking, refocus and redirect ideas for sports to be seen not only as medication to highblood pressure and entertainment industry, but now a money making industry that will be profitale to both the government, athletes, viewers and the business entreprenuers.

Shehu Dikkos active participation in sporting activities lives him with a drawn plan on how the minds of viewers particularly the management will be drifted from sports qualifications, participation and summer tourism to sports development and production to ensure that the eco system works accordingly.

This visit to the President since their assumption of duty, was a grate opportunity for them to let Nigerians understand their defined vision of what the sector should offer the general sports world. Serious focus according to the Chairman, will also, be to have very close synergy and as well, merge the experiences of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Major Stakeholders and strictly select credible coaches, serving and experienced retired sports administrators that will help change the face of sporting activities.

The Chairman Shehu Dikko was promising as he has assured Nigerians befor the President that the remaining 6 matches to be played for qualification for the World Cup and other significant matches that involve both male and female will be strictly monitored befor March 2025. The different sports fedrations especially the NFF according to him, will be more promising and as well, regain its lost wide audience.

However, The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Exco members led by their Abuja Chairman, Mr Chidoka and his National Secretary Mr Ikenna Okonkwo shortly visited the Sports Commission Chairman to pledge their commitment in di- eminating sports news in a manner that will not paint the country with a negative image. The SWAN chairman on behalf of others was emphatic as he assured Shehu Dikko that it is observed that negative representation through thier coverages is tantamount to presenting the image of sports in the country to a liken stage of deformation. Chidoka said that the country has both deligent and intelligent correspondence that can be reckoned with.

Surprisingly, Shehu Dikko himself is a writer with pedigree and have published books that are educative. He is seen as a man with vast knowledge possibly the reason he is flexible in communication and public relation. Some people no doubt have qualifications in criticism but this natural gift of thiers can be converted to workable eco system in line with Shehu Dikkos idea to raise the GDP of our country. Shehu Dikko has opened his doors to dialouges for better understanding of his three Rs to the general public especially those with goodwill of motivations

Felly Mammah
Press Officer.

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Opinion

RE: BLAIR “HAS QUESTIONS TO ANSWER” OVER SUPPORT FOR BRITAIN WHILE ADVISING NIGERIA

Published

2 days ago

October 20, 2026

The Gleamer

(A rejoinder to Gordon Rayner’s article of October 18,2026 in the Telegraph, UK
By Kehinde Bamigbetan
After reading this article, particularly the denials from the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Federal Government of Nigeria, one is bound to question the editorial judgment that gives this piece any value.

In short, what did Gordon Rainer set out to do with this publication? Put a shine on Jupiter’s false and thoroughly empty narrative? Set up a former Prime Minister for blackmail and opprobrium? Or revive a dead case before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes?

Whichever, Rainer presents propositions which swallow their answers. His first argument that Blair might have undermined British national security interests is contradicted by the disclosure that the TBI has no contract to advise the Federal Government of Nigeria.

His second argument, that Jupiter was denied the execution of its licence, is contradicted by the fact that the company is unknown under Nigerian law. Rainer then admits knowing this fact and introduces the company as Jupiter’s partners.

For clarity and the benefit of his readers, these companies—Basin Mining Limited and Range Mining Limited—lost their licences for failing to pay annual service fees. Basin, for instance, owes N1,223,750,000, about £691,368.

The licences were revoked after the companies ignored several notices to fulfil their contractual obligations to the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office. Penalties for non-payment are increasing daily, and the legal process to recover the funds is underway.

Rather than rescue its partners by paying their fees and penalties or allow the international settlement court to determine its case, Jupiter has mounted an international self-help campaign of calumny and economic sabotage against the government and people of Nigeria, using methods that threaten Nigeria’s security and diplomatic interests.

We believe Rainer is its latest innocent recruit, hoodwinked into propagating a false narrative by appealing to British national security interests when, in fact, Jupiter’s partners are, under Nigerian law, economic and security risks whose continued defiance of Nigeria’s laws endangers centuries of Britain-Nigeria relations.

The question Rainer should ask: if, indeed, Jupiter has a cast-iron case, why is it shedding crocodile tears and shopping for sympathy with false pretences and narratives?

Let’s give the clue: Jupiter’s promoter, Steve Davis, has leeched on Nigeria’s presidents since 1999 by pretending to be an international mining expert, and he has acquired an ego and assets far out of proportion to his financial and technical status.
He is so comfortable living above the law in Nigeria that compliance with regulatory provisions is a taboo, an affront to his bloated ego as a self-deluded “founder of Nigeria’s modern mining sector.”

Davis had a good time living his ego until Dele Alake became Nigeria’s Minister of Solid Minerals Development in August 2023 and immediately launched a clean-up of the sector focused on zero-tolerance for non-compliance with the provisions of the Nigeria Minerals and Mining Law 2007, a law that Davis boasts he contributed to making and should set an example by encouraging compliance.

The Minister was shocked that the Nigerian Mining Cadastre had a huge amount of unpaid statutory fees despite the government’s investment in the Electronic Mining Cadastre Plus (EMC+) automation, which digitised the licensing process and upgraded services to the mining sector.

In line with the law, the minister ensured debtors were duly notified, and defaulters duly gazetted before revoking their licences for flouting the regulation on the payment of annual service fees.

In November 2023, the minister revoked at least 1,663 licences, a decision that showed it was no longer business as usual under the new sheriff in town.

To show the government has a human face, it opened a three-month restitution window to address complaints and feedback indicating cases of extenuating circumstances.

But still basking in the euphoria of an ego that has outlived its era, Davis discouraged his partners from taking advantage of these opportunities for remorse. Instead, he threatened to exploit his global networks to frustrate the Federal Government of Nigeria.

He wasn’t joking. He launched a global disinformation campaign from his native Australia to Canada, from the United States to Europe. However, his lies evaporated as soon as the facts were laid bare.

Davis pulled his most ambitious stunt so far during Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom in March this year, when he polluted the air with narratives designed to set Nigeria against the West by spreading blatant falsehoods and playing the victim.

But, as he found out to his misery, the whole public relations game was dead on arrival. A comprehensive statement clarifying the issues to the highly intelligent British media sent him into the cold.

All we ask is that journalists refer to the eternal maxim of the journalism profession whenever Davis knocks on their door: if in doubt, leave it out.

When a story like this betrays so many contradictions, the rule is not to encourage its spread. Every responsible journalist has the moral duty to kill it.

Kehinde Bamigbetan is a Journalist and Special Adviser to Dele Alake, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Federal Republic of Nigeria

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