John Enoh, Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, has issued a public apology following the country’s poor performance at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France. Despite receiving ₦12 billion in funding from President Bola Tinubu’s administration—₦9 billion for the Olympics and ₦3 billion for the upcoming Paralympic Games—Nigeria failed to secure a single medal at the event.
In his statement, Minister Enoh acknowledged the team’s failure to meet the nation’s expectations. “The Olympic Games, Paris 2024, have ended, and I accept that our performance should have been a lot better. It fell short of our objectives, expectations, and hopes of Nigerians. I must apologize to our compatriots and reflect on what went wrong while looking forward to the Paralympic Games,” Enoh said.
The Minister took office in August 2023, just months before the Olympics, and was immediately tasked with preparing the country for four major international competitions, including the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), the African Games, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, he revealed that preparations for the Olympics had not yet begun when he assumed office.
Enoh emphasized the ministry’s efforts to bolster the country’s international sports reputation. “Our target was to re-enact the Atlanta 1996 performance or even improve on it,” he stated. To achieve this, he initiated a nationwide inspection of sports facilities, engaged National Sports Federations for detailed plans, and formed a Ministerial Podium Performance Advisory Committee to oversee preparations.
Despite these efforts, Nigeria struggled with athlete qualification and preparation, as many athletes had to peak multiple times in a short period due to the packed competition schedule. Enoh also highlighted the challenges of competing against nations whose athletes had been in structured training for nearly a year prior.
The Minister expressed confusion over the team’s underwhelming performance, especially given the substantial financial backing and resources provided. “The underwhelming performance of our team is puzzling. We owe Nigerians an explanation,” he remarked. Enoh has since launched a review process to assess the competition readiness of each athlete, the effectiveness of the coaching staff, and the administrative support provided.
Enoh concluded by urging the nation to learn from the disappointing outcome and make necessary improvements. He noted that Nigeria had not returned from the Olympics without a medal since 2012 and expressed hope that the lessons learned from Paris 2024 would lead to future successes.
The Minister now turns his attention to the Paralympic Games, scheduled for August 28 to September 8, 2024, where the country hopes to redeem its international sports standing.
