The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has claimed to be in the dark on how the N2.9b released for the participation of team Nigeria in the 2015 All Africa Games, Youths Olympics and preparation for the 2016 Olympics was spent.

However, the former Director-General of the defunct National Sports Commission Alhassan Yakmut told journalists that the minister was being economical with the truth.

The Minister at a Press Conference in Abuja on Friday claimed he couldn’t account for the said money because he was yet to be briefed on how the money was spent.

“It is true the Nigerian President approved the sum of N2.9 billion to the defunct National Sports Commission but as I speak today as the minister, I don’t think I have gotten enough information on how that money has been spent.

” The story of the N2.9 billion is of serious concern to me. He (Yakmut) never briefed me on the issue of the N2.9 billion and today he has left. I have demanded for the memo of approval and I have seen it,” Dalung said.

He said the funds suppose to have addressed issues which till now, were still pending, stressing that he went out of his way to get funds to pay the balance of Team Nigeria’s accommodation in Rio.

Dalung claimed no amount was handed over to the Ministry of Youth and Sports from the released sum and he was interested in knowing how the money was spent.

On his part, Yakmut told our reporter on phone that the minister has been duly briefed by all directors during a meeting which was witnessed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

“If the minister was not briefed, how did he come about giving instructions on the money left which he inherited as a minister?

“How did he come about giving us instructions to give N252 million to NFF to prosecute their CAF championship and African U-23?”

He said the minister actually met a total sum of N654 million from the released funds.

Meanwhile, the minister who said he had inspected facilities at the Nigeria House in Rio, Brazil ahead of the sport fiesta, said he had horridly mobilise funds to offset pending financial obligations.

While disclosing that 54 athletes have already qualified for the Games with others presently participating in qualifiers, Dalung said camping of athletes will begin soon.

count | 293

Yakmut yet to account for N2.9b Olympics money – Dalung