The President, Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Saidu Abubakar, has commended the National Sports Commission (NSC) for providing a charter flight to transport Team Nigeria to Brazzaville.

The team was transported via a charter arrangement to Congo to take part in the ongoing 11th Africa Games, which commenced on Sept. 4.

A statement released by Abubakar, on Thursday in Brazzaville, also commended the officials of the Nigerian Embassy in Brazzaville for their commitment in assisting the Nigerian athletes, officials and journalists on arrival in Brazzaville for the Games.

“Considering the travel difficulties of various National delegations to Brazzaville, we like to commend the NSC for choosing to provide charter flights for Nigerian athletes.

“That arrangement ensured that they arrived in time to settle in for the competitions. We are happy to see them in good condition.

“The trip to Brazzaville has been very challenging for various African countries, because there were fewer direct commercial flights into Brazzaville.

“Some of us that came via the commercial flights, spent two days in transit, having first to arrive in Addis Ababa, Morocco and even Dubai before finally touching down in Brazzaville.

“But the charter flight made it easy for Team Nigeria to depart Nigeria and arrive in Brazzaville within three hours.

“On our way to Brazzaville, some us that traveled via commercial flights, in Addis Ababa met athletes from countries like Uganda and even Mozambique that had to spend two nights in transit within the same continent.

“It was a harrowing experience that could have taken a toll on our athletes,” the statement said, “if the NSC not reasoned aright.”

The statement praised the embassy staff, who assisted in making things easy for the country’s delegation.

“They have been wonderful in assisting us, right from the immigration processes, through the challenging accreditation process, transportation and accommodation.

“The travel experience underscores the need for Nigeria to resuscitate its national carrier. We are happy with the commission for being as thoughtful not to have taken our athletes through the fatigue of connecting flights.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Blessing Okagbare