Security Beefed Up As Maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival Begins In Uyo, April 1, 2025

TUESDAY April 1, 2025 |
By thenewsdesk.ng

To ensure the safety of athletes, officials, and spectatators, security has been beefed up around venues of the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF), in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Ahead of today’s opening ceremony of the festival, tight security arrangements could be noticed at the various venues of the festival as a detachment of operatives from the Nigeria Police, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), and the Department of State Services are already on the ground at the six locations hosting the festival.

According to a member of the Security Sub-committee, who pleaded anonymity, there will be strict adherence to the access codes as unauthorised persons will not be allowed into restricted areas.

“There are defined access codes for different areas and only those with accreditation tags with specific access codes would be allowed into such areas,” the official said, adding that security vans have been stationed at strategic locations at the venues.

About 3,000 athletes, 800 coaches, and technical officials are expected at the games, which will feature 17 events from April 1 to 8. The festival will be officially flagged off by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the Uyo Township Stadium.

Members of the Akwa Ibom State Executive Council, led by the state’s Commissioner for Sports, Paul Bassey, made a last round of tour of the venue yesterday morning as directed by Governor Umo Bassey Eno. They were joined by the Co-Chairman of the Main Organising Committee (MOC), Sir Itiako Ikpokpo among others.

Bassey again expressed satisfaction with the level of preparations and assured that the state was ready for the festival.

Some of the inspected facilities include the renovated Olympic-size swimming pool at the Uyo Township Stadium and basketball, Volleyball, Handball, and Tennis courts.

Other venues are the Ultrafit Sports Centre, which will host table tennis and tennis as well as the Itam West Secondary School which will host Handball. The festival is sponsored by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and supported by Premium Trust Bank.

Meanwhile, accreditation of athletes, coaches, officials, and media commenced yesterday at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo. To ensure a seamless process, the organisers set up points to attend to each state, media, and members of the Local Organising Committee and Main Organising Committee, as well as, invited guests.