Olympics 2024: Nigeria’s Sports Minister breaks silence on Ese Ukpeseraye ‘borrowing’ bicycle

Nigeria’s Minister of Sports, John Enoh, has claimed that they were at the last minute, able to get a bicycle for cyclist Ese Ukpeseraye, to compete in the keirin and sprint events.

This is contrary to reports there was no equipment provided for her at the ongoing Olympics in Paris.

Ukpeseraye had posted on social media that she had no bicycle to race with and had to borrow one from a German cycling team.

“Due to the short notice of me competing at the keirin & Sprint, #teamNigeria I had no bicycle to race with on the tracks,” Ukpeseraye said in a post via her X handle on Thursday.

“In the spirit of sportsmanship, the German team @bunddeutscherradfahr came to my rescue by offering me a bicycle. Thank you,” Ukpeseraye added.

Her post has since generated backlash from the public.

However, in a clarification post on Friday, the sports minister said Ukpeseraye did not put her explanation in the right context.

According to her, the notification for her participation came in at the last minute, which necessitated the lack of the required bicycle needed for participation.

He added that the federation through Ukpeseraye’s Club in Europe, and working with a German-owned Company, got a track bike for her.

He wrote on X, “My attention has been called to a post on social media by Ese Ukpeseraye. After reading the post and some follow-up comments I swung into action.

“Ese’s post seems to have been grossly misunderstood, perhaps also because it didn’t seem to give proper context to the matter in perspective.

“It is important I make some clarifications. Abinitio, Team Nigeria qualified for one road race in cycling and prepared for it in terms of training and the appropriate competition equipment.

“Team Nigeria was fully prepared for this road race until two weeks ago after the Cycling team with the rest of Team Nigeria had already left for the Olympics, that a communication from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) was received reallocating additional slots to the Cyclist Federation of Nigeria (Kerin and individual sprint).

“This reallocation to Nigeria was due to the disqualification of a country, leaving Nigeria as the next eligible to make the list of qualified countries to compete.

“Unfortunately, this additional slot required the use of a different competition equipment in terms of biking.

“For this track race reallocated to Team Nigeria, very special equipment (approved specifically for the Olympic track game) is used. It’ll take months to have it delivered after ordering and making payment.

“To therefore get Ese to compete, the Federation through Ese’s Club in Europe and working with a German-owned Company, got a ‘Track Bike’ for our cycler Ese.

“Tomorrow the 9th of August 2024, Ese will race in an individual sprint, the race she originally qualified for.”