The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has described as untrue media reports that the National Sports Commission (NSC) was not supporting its preparation for the IAAF World Athletics Championship in Moscow, Russia.

Spokesman of the AFN board, Olukayode Thomas, confirmed Wednesday that the NSC was supporting the federation financially and morally ahead of the championship.

"The NSC under the leadership of Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has been supportive of all our events, including the World Championship. The Honourable Minister requested for our plan for the World Championship and we have submitted it to him. We don't have any problem with the NSC or the Minister as regards the World Youth Championship, and other championships Nigeria has qualified to feature in," stressed Thomas.

While further describing the report as coming from the fertile minds of the reporter, the AFN board spokesman stated that the NSC and the minister "is ever willing to assist as soon as our file gets to his table. We therefore disassociate our federation from that report, perhaps, aimed at causing a rift between the AFN board and the NSC."

Thomas said that to show the cordial relationship between the AFN and the NSC, the minister has already called for our programme for next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

"In fact, for the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, the Honourable Minister has started planning with us. He has secured a camp for our local athletes where we will do our build-up. He is also working on our overseas camping. All that we need do is give him the financial implication of our preparation and it is approved."

Thomas attests that in the history of athletics in Nigeria, Mallam Abdullahi is the only sports minister to openly identify with athletics.

"He was at the Africa Youth Championship. He is also the first sports minister to attend the All Nigeria Athletics Championship, away from his city of abode. He is a friend of athletics and we are embarrassed by the publication," said Thomas.