The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Barrister Solomon Dalung, has revealed that Super Eagles’ early qualification for this summer’s FIFA World Cup in Russia saved Nigeria a whooping sum of N7billion.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria qualified for Russia 2018 from Group B of the qualifiers (CAF Section) with a game to spare.

The Sports Minister made this known during the Award Dinner for Retires and Medalists on Friday at the VIP Lodge of the Abuja National Stadium.

According to him, the Super Eagles have a history of struggling to qualify for the World Cup and that prompted previous administrations to set up Presidential Task Force in the past and that was at a cost of a whopping N7billion naira.

In his words, Dalung said: “We are glad to inform Nigerians that for the first time in so many years, the Super Eagles qualified for the World Cup tournament with a game remaining in the group. Nigerians were happy , but most importantly is the fact that the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development saved the nation N7billion , which would have gone into setting up a Presidential Task Force as was witnessed in previous government.”

“The ministry will continue to support the development of sports in Nigeria.” he added.

He also bemoaned the lack of a proper reward system for those who really served the country. Dalung said: “The problem in Nigeria and in sports particularly is the reward system. The real people who served the country are not recognised and rewarded with national awards.”

“The national awards are not just for the politicians. People in civil service that served this country meritoriously ought to be rewarded and that is the reason the ministry is rewarding retirees and medalists , who excelled serving their fatherland.” he concluded.