By
Akeem Lawal
The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Solomon
Dalung has denied reports that the Ministry has not rewarded members of the
Paralympics team, saying that the athletes were 'handsomely' rewarded as
against what was being reported.
The minister said gold medalists got $5000, silver $4000
and bronze winners were paid $3000.
The Nigerian team won 12 medals; eight gold, two silver
and two bronze medals at the Rio 2016 Paralympics Games held in Brazil from 7
to 18 September.
"It is not correct for anybody to assert that they
have not been rewarded when the person has not done the job of verification
very well. The reward for paralympians was automatic.
"I supervised the payment of bonuses of $5000 for
gold medalists, $3000 for silver medalists and $2000 for bronze medalists. So,
those raising the issue that they had not been compensated may not by aware.
"Even, Yakubu, who had a world record, but due to
administrative lapses, was unable to be presented to defend his medal, I
insisted that it will be unjust to exclude him from those who have got medals.
His record was not even beaten by the person who took the medal. The difference
was that he was not presented by the country.
"So, I instructed that he must also get $5000 as a
gold medalist. So, it is not correct to say that they have not been compensated.
After the reward from the ministry, there is a need to get presidential
blessing. So, if Nigerians are talking about the presidential blessing, I have
written the president.
"As soon as we get his approval, a day to honour
those who have made Nigeria proud, will be honoured. Let's not lose touch of
the fact that we as a country are undergoing certain challenges. So, we must do
things based on reality on the ground," Dalung said.
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