JONATHAN TO IMPLEMENT OUTCOME OF RETREAT ON SPORTS

President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday assured Nigerians of his preparedness to support ideas that would make the country stronger and united.

Jonathan, who stated this while hoisting the national, state and games' flags to kick off the 18th National Sports Festival tagged 'Eko 2012,' vowed to implement recommendations of the recently concluded presidential retreat on sports.

He said the coming together of the states irrespective of the political, ethnic and religious differences is an affirmation that the festival had as its cardinal objective the unification of the country.

Jonathan, who was represented at the ceremony by the Vice President Namadi Sambo, said: 'I wish to assure all Nigerians that the recommendations made at the end of the retreat would be fully implemented for the development of sports in Nigeria.

'Due to the importance of sports in the development of any nation, the Federal Government would never yield in its commitments to ensure that the sports sector receives the necessary attention.

Exactly three weeks ago, I lifted the torch of unity for the 18th National Sports Festival tagged: 'Eko 2012,' which was expected to move to all the states, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). That ceremony signifies the official commencement of the sports festival.

'The hoisting of the flag today was specifically designed to create awareness and mobilise support for the festival. We believe that the Governors of the 36 states and the minister of the FCT to be personally involved in the activities of the national sports festival would give the festival the desired attention,'