Inside the World Cup

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Nigeria promises to be ready for Under-17 World Cup

July 1 - Nigerian officials today promised that they will beat FIFA's deadline set for hosting the Under-17 World Cup, which is due to be held this October and November.

FIFA secretary general, Jerome Valcke, and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner travelled to Nigeria last month and met Nigerian Vice-President, Jonathan Goodluck, in Lagos to request binding Government guarantees that Nigeria will fulfill all requirements for hosting the competition.

Nigeria's Sport Minister Engineer Sani Mohammed Ndanusa has now assured FIFA that all of their requests will be met, including the setting up of several sub-committees to oversee the planning for the event.

The event is also facing threats of violence from Members for Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND), who are protesting against foreign oil companies being based in Nigeria and who have warned that they will disrupt the tournament.

But Ndanusa assured FIFA that President Umaru Musa Yar'adua was committed to hosting the event, including guaranteeing a high level of security.

He aid: "I want to commend President Umaru Musa Yar'adua for his commitment to ensure that Nigeria host the World Cup in October/ November this year.

"That commitment manifested again recently when he signed a guaranteed to assure FIFA of Nigeria's readiness to host the world.

"At this juncture, let me assure you that all organisations will be concluded before the next visit of the FIFA inspection team.

He claimed that all nine bidding to host the matches of the World Cup will be ready for use as league match venues after the World Cup in November, fulfilling one of the promises that the Nigerian Government made when they were awarded the event.