The Nigeria Sports Minister, Sunday Dare has boasted that Nigeria Athletes would definitely make the podium at this years Olympic Games billed to hold in the city of Tokyo, Japan.

The Minister  who spoke with pressmen at the end of National Open Trial in Lagos was full of praise for the athletes over their remarkable performances as well the sense of professionalism displayed all through the event.

"I think that this opportunity to compete in the National Trials is critical and that's I have said unless you come to the National Trials, you will not make Team Nigeria. We saw that athletes both home and abroad heeded that clarion call because they love this country and they are patriotic. They all came and they came to put up their best and I thank them for that patriotism and their professionalism and I think from this National Trial we can sit back and start to pen in the next 48-72 hours the Nigerian Olympics team that will go to Tokyo2020 Olympics."

Nigeria's performance at recent Olympics Games has not been impressive. At the 2016 Olympics Games which took place in Rio, Brazil,  for instance Nigeria returned with only one bronze medal, won by the Samson Siasia led Dream Team. At the London Games, Nigeria returned with no medal.

The current Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare is hoping to change the narrative at the Tokyo Games. 

"We have tracked and monitored these athletes over the time. We also watch the world ranking and we know where they stand. I was with them in Dallas Texas. I saw them run against five other countries. Some of these athletes are among the best you have in the world and we can always hope for the best. I'm confident they would make podium performances in Tokyo."