Nigeria's Information Minister Speaks On Okocha's Fame, EPL, Barcelona, Real Madrid

The Federal Government has again affirmed that Nigeria owes its fame to sports especially football, Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed has declared, citing his recent trip to France where an airport staff thought he was ex-Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Austin Okocha.

The Minister further confirmed that the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is looking to boost the economy using sports, adding that the English Premier League, Barcelona and Real Madrid generate revenues for the European countries.

''Nigeria owes its fame to two major things, sports and the entertainment industry,'' said Lai Mohammed.

''I was in Cannes in France in April and when I was being checked in, I think somebody went and told the counter attendant that there was a VIP that was coming to be checked in and he was very anxious,'I want to know who the VIP was'.

''And when I got there he was quite disappointed, he said he was actually thinking it was Jay Jay Okocha.''

He added : ''In my Ministry, I look at sports also as an area where we can showcase our tourism. People don't know the kind of money that comes in through the Premier League.

''In Spain, for every 1,000 dollars, one and half dollars comes from two clubs Real Madrid and Barcelona. That's the importance of sports to the economy.''

The Super Eagles are one of the 32 teams that will be competing at this summer's football festival in Russia.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel