Solomon Dalung, former Minister of Youth and Sports, defended his performance during an interview with Trust TV. He linked Nigeria’s ongoing failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup to his departure from office in 2019.
Unbeaten Records in Sports Ministry
Dalung stated that he left records no one has surpassed. “I left records in the Ministry of Youth and Sports that nobody has been able to beat,” he said. Additionally he emphasized Nigeria’s absence from the World Cup since his exit. “Since I left the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Nigeria has never qualified for the World Cup,” Dalung added.
Historic Qualification for 2018 World Cup
Dalung served as minister from 2015 to 2019. He claimed the Super Eagles qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia under his leadership without previous support structures.
“I qualified them in 2018 as a minister alone, when before you qualify, you use to have a presidential task force with a budget of N10 billion,” he explained.
Furthermore Nigeria secured qualification with a match to spare. “But single-handedly I qualified Nigeria with a match to spare and since I left, Nigeria has never smelled that place,” Dalung noted.
Revival of Abandoned Facilities
Dalung highlighted infrastructure achievements. He revived several facilities that had remained unused for years. “The national swimming pool in Lagos stadium was abandoned for 20 years, I renovated it, put it into use and it is being used today,” he said.
Moreover he restored the paralympic gymnasium and basketball indoor court at the National Stadium in Lagos. “The paralympic gymnasium in Lagos national stadium was abandoned, I revived it. The basketball indoor court in Lagos, I revived it,” Dalung stated.
Construction of New Stadia
Dalung initiated and completed new projects. He built three national mini stadia in Daura, Makurdi, and Kano. “I built three national mini stadia in Daura, Makurdi and Kano,” he said. He also claimed uniqueness in project delivery. “I was the only minister who started a project in 2016 and completed it in 2018 before I left,” Dalung added.
Response to Critics
Dalung challenged those who criticized his tenure. “So, before you say Solomon Dalung performed woefully, what happened that since he left that place Nigeria has not qualified?” he asked.
However he sarcastically accepted the label of poor performance. “So, all these are woeful performance and I accept it,” Dalung said. He described himself as the most successful minister in the role.
