Lack of Funds Hindering Burial Plans For Stephen Keshi - Reports

There are indications the plans for late football great Stephen Okechukwu Keshi’s burial may be disrupted as a result of lack of funds.

The Big Boss passed away in Edo State last month after a brief illness, and the Federal Government has fixed his burial for July 27, 28 and 29, with a committee headed by the Permanent Secretary in the Youth and Sports Ministry already set up.

However, Sports Vanguard is reporting that Keshi’s burial may not go ahead as scheduled as there are no funds for committee meetings let alone burial proper.


It is also reported that Sports Minister, Barr Solomon Dalung, who has been busy trying to make funds available for the Nigerian contingent to the Rio 2016 Olympics, is at a loss over how to ask the Presidency for fund for Keshi’s burial, estimated to cost about N30million.

“But, this is an extra-budgetary matter and we have to be patient with the Presidency”, a source said.

“Having captained the national team for nearly 15years, winning the Nations Cup as captain and coach, Keshi deserves a hero’s burial and the Federal Government will do it but funds have been hindering us”, added another committee member.

Dalung had promised to give Keshi a heroic burial so as to send a message home to today’s youths that if they serve Nigeria well in any endeavour the nation will never forget them and will reward them bountifully even in death.

However, the cash crunch bedevilling all sectors of the economy is threatening to derail the plan on Keshi’s burial by the ministry.

Keshi, who managed Togo and Mali, was also an Ambassador of Sports for Nigeria before his sudden passing