Nigerian cyclist Ese Lovina Ukpeseraye has revealed that athletes in Nigeria are struggling to access crucial sports facilities due to their frequent rental for religious events. Speaking after her participation in the Paris Olympics, Ukpeseraye criticized the management of the Abuja Velodrome, describing it as one of Africa’s best cycling tracks that remains underutilized for its intended purpose.
Ukpeseraye, who recently represented Nigeria at the Olympics, highlighted that the velodrome, renowned for its high-quality wooden track, is predominantly used for religious services and other activities, leaving cyclists without a proper training venue. “We have a very beautiful track; our track is the best in Africa, but we don’t use it,” she said, emphasizing the detrimental impact of this issue on the sport’s development in Nigeria.
Her comments followed a previous revelation on social media about her having to borrow a bike for the Keirin Sprint event at the Olympics, which sparked significant criticism of the Nigerian sports authorities. This backlash underscored concerns about the mismanagement of sports facilities and resources.
In response, the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John, issued a statement addressing the controversy. He clarified that Ukpeseraye’s post may have been misunderstood and provided context about Team Nigeria’s preparations. According to the Minister, Nigeria’s initial Olympic qualification was for one road race, with preparation and equipment in place. However, a last-minute slot allocation from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for additional events required different equipment, complicating the situation.
The Minister’s statement aimed to clarify the misunderstanding but did not fully address the issue of facility access. The ongoing concerns about the velodrome’s usage continue to highlight challenges facing Nigerian sports infrastructure and the need for better management to support athletes.
