Bio, who has also assumed the role of chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), claimed that Nigeria has great potential in a number of events and could excel in "those so-called lesser sports with the right leadership and management."

He said: "I intend to go with all the sports.

"I don't intend to be minister of football, I want to be really a Minister of Sports.

"It is to assure all sports that they will receive my attention during the time I will be in charge."

Bio, 52, was formerly Nigeria's Minister of Transport before being appointed as the new Sports Minister earlier this month by Acting President Goodluck Jonathan.

He replaces Alhaji Ndanusa, the first vice-president of the Nigerian Olympic Committee (NOC), with a promise to revitalise Nigeria's fortunes.

Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa and the eighth biggest in the world, has only ever won two Olympic gold medals since they made their debut in the Games at Helsinki in 1952.

Both came at Atlanta in 1996 when the men's football team claimed gold and Chioma Ajunwa won the long jump.

At the last Olympics in Beijing Nigeria won four medals, a silver and three bronze.

Bio said: "Our performance in sports has dwindled over the years; our Olympic outings, Commonwealth Games, in football our fortunes have been dwindling.

"It is a great opportunity and desire for me to address some of the lapses that we have witnessed in sports administration.

"First I want to encourage other sports.

"People here tend to believe that the only sport is football, but there are other sports where Nigerians have a lot God given talent and comparative advantage.

"I intend to develop such areas like swimming.

"We are supposed to be wining medal in swimming given the naturally endured swimmers in the riverine areas of the Niger Delta."