Former Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi’s burial, earlier fixed for July 27 to 29, may be postponed due to lack of funds.
Indications emerged that unless the Presidency intervenes, the planned burial of the late soccer icon, may not hold as scheduled.
The burial had been fixed by the Federal Government for July 27, 28 and 29, with a committee, headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Youth and Sports Ministry, set up for the purpose.
However, it has now come to light that the committee has not been able to function because there are no funds for their meetings let alone the burial proper.
Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who is battling to get funds released for Team Nigeria to travel later this week for the Rio Olympics, is said to be at a loss over how to ask the Presidency for Keshi’s burial fund, estimated to be in the region of N30million.
Sources within the committee said that the Minister is worried, especially as Nigerians will not take it lightly if Keshi is not given a befitting burial.
“But, this is an extra-budgetary matter and we have to be patient with the Presidency”, a source hinted.
“Having captained the national team for nearly 15 years, winning the Nations Cup as captain and coach, Keshi deserves a hero’s burial and the FG will do it. But funds have been hindering us”, another committee member said.
Keshi was also an Ambassador of Sports for Nigeria before his sudden passage.
In setting up the burial committee, Dalung had said that government wanted to accord Keshi a heroic burial so as to send a message to today’s youths that if they serve Nigeria well in any endeavour, the nation will never forget them and will reward them even in death.
