Nigeria: FIFA ignore threats from militants

  1. Posted on Thursday 18 June 2009 - 14:55
    Murtala
    Image of Murtala
    Murtala Kamara Mohammed, AfricaNews reporter in Freetown, Sierra Leone
    The world football governing body FIFA has ignored a warning which was earlier issued by militants group operating in Southern Nigeria. The warning was for the body to 'rethink' its decision of hosting this years U-17 world cup tournament which is schedule for October 24 to November 15 in Nigeria.
    Nigeria 2009
    The main militant group in Niger Delta, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) issued an email statement warning FIFA that ‘’this opportunity to advise FIFA to have a re-think about Nigeria hosting the under-17 world cup tournament at this time, as the safety of international players and visitors cannot not be guaranteed due to the current unrest’’ the MEND warned.

    A very senior official of FIFA has said that arrangements are on-course for the West African country to host the historic events according to This Day newspaper. The official who was quoted as anonymous citing various reasons said in her reaction to MEND warning that "FIFA received the full commitment from the Nigerian government, as well as additional guarantees requested by FIFA, specific to security and medical related issues, which were signed by President Umaru Yar'Adua."

    A high profile federation official was quoted to have said that FIFA intend to go on and "undertake a final inspection visit to the sites where there is a need, by the end of July.

    Prior to that, FIFA's administration will review all the host cities and stadiums in early July," said the official in a statement to AFP.

    The upcoming U-17 world cup has come under sharp criticism by football pundits whiles many say that the Africa most populace nation is not taken the event seriously but Nigeria’s Vice-President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan earlier assured a high power visiting delegation from FIFA that his country will host a hitch free football tournament.

    MEND is claiming to be fighting for a fair share of their country’s oil wealth but the group has come under sharp criticism in their recent tactics of hostage taking and demanding of ransom.

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