In what appears to be a dramatic u-turn, the Nigeria’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung has called an all-inclusive meeting of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Guinness World Record Boxing Championship.
The latest development, P.M. EXPRESS reports, happened on Monday when the World Boxing Federation (WBF) cruiserweight champion, Bashiru Lawrence Ali, OON, was at the Minister’s office at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja to deliver a letter he wrote asking him to convene the LOC meeting before he leaves office. Instead of receiving the letter the Minister informed Bash Ali of his readiness to do the needful on the world title fight, first is the convening of the LOC meeting, which will signal official preparation for the championship scheduled for Abuja at a yet to be fixed date.
To show his seriousness this time around, Dalung has already dispatched letters to all the LOC members inviting them to the meeting scheduled for 21 May, 2019 by 11am at his office located on 2nd Floor, Block D, Federal Secretariat, Phase II, Abuja.
Members of the LOC include prominent Nigerians in the public and private sectors and two leading banks in the country.
P.M. EXPRESS has privy of seeing a copy of the invitation letter which reads: “I write to convey my warm sporting felicitations and warm regards from the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development.
“You will recalled that the Honourable Minister of Sports/Chairman of National Sports Commission inaugurated the Local Organising Committee of the Bash Ali Guinness Book of World Record Boxing title fight on 7th January, 2014 to oversee the organisation of the much anticipated and history- making bout. However, due to the circumstances beyond the control of the organisers, the project has been on hold.
“It is with pleasure therefore I write to inform you that the Local Organising Committee is being reconstituted to continue with the assignment. You are hereby invited to the inauguration.”
The Sport’s Minister concluded his letter that he is looking forward to working with all members of the LOC on the important project.
P.M.EXPRESS recalled that the world title fight, which is coming on the platforms of World Boxing Federation (WBF) and International Boxing Union (IBU), has been in the pipeline for several years, suffering different kinds of hitches, despite approvals of two sitting Nigerian presidents, Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.
The succour came for the Edo State born pugilist when President Muhammadu Buhari gave approval for the support of the Federal Government for staging of first-ever Guinness Book of World Record Boxing Championship in Africa, with the government promising enabling environment for the organization of the fight in the country.
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This will be great for Bash Alli and for Nigeria to actualize it,for Godsake let the world know Nigeria standard in the Guinness Book Of World Record.