6 November 2008
editorial
The latest efforts of the Local Organising Committee of the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup to defend the rankling budget of N35 billion it presented is enough reason to sack the LOC especially as it has chosen to befuddle Nigerians with lies - the chief of which is comparing the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa with a FIFA developmental tournament for school children.
Committee Senate Committee on Sports Heineken Lokpobiri is convinced N35 billion was too small to host the competition. "It is very unfortunate that Nigerians were crying wolves over the paltry N35 billion or N37 billion when South Africa is spending over $70 billion, which means we are not even spending one per cent of what South Africa is spending.
We should not call ourselves the giant of Africa. If a budget that is far less than one per cent of the budget of South Africa to host 2010 World Cup was proposed all these cries here, as far as I am concerned, are unnecessary," Senator Lokpobiri said.
His logic is not only skewed but is based on the false information that the LOC passes around. Actual construction cost for World Cup stadia is about 21 billion rand, including adjustment for recent price increases.
South Africa is hosting the 2010 World Cup, FIFA's prime competition involving 32 teams, over 30 days. The U-17 competition is for students - 24 teams in 21 days. Most countries quarter teams for the U-17 in university hostels.
Since comparisons with South Africa form the bases for the LOC scam, Senator Lokpobiri might consider some of these - South Africa in 2007/2008 budgeted US$1.1 billion to hire additional teachers, and a further US$1 million for teacher bursaries. Over the next five years Eskom, South Africa 's electricity company will expend R343 billion, with about 73 per cent earmarked for power generation. How do these compare with Nigeria's expenditure in these areas?
South Africans are deploying massive funds to develop their country, the 2010 World Cup is actually an excuse for this. The U-17 competition like others before it, will not develop Nigeria.
There are no bases for comparing South Africa's burgeoning economy and expenditures towards sustaining its growth to scams which like circuses end without leaving any development.
Over the next three years South Africa will spend more than 400 billion rand on infrastructure, a tiny part of it dedicated to the World Cup.
It is modernising its rails, airports, roads, security, tourism sites, education, healthcare delivery, information communication technology, social security and about anything that would make it a better country.
Since most of those involved in this LOC ran Nigeria'99, Ghana-Nigeria 2000 and the 2003 All Africa Games, they should tell us what happened to the billions expended in upgrading NTA facilities, which we were told were for future uses.
The deceit must end. Nigeria can host the competition for less than N9 billion it behooves Senator Lokpobiri to understand that even N9 billion is not a paltry sum!
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