By Francis Ajuonuma
Sports Minister, John Owan Enoh says he weeps for the deplorable state of sports facilities at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The minister made the expression yesterday after inspecting sports facilities at the stadium where he was accompanied by the Director of Facilities and Stadium Management, Alanamu Abolore and other Directors in the Ministry.
Places inspected include the National Institute for Sports (NIS) and its administrative block, the Brai Ayonote Boxing Gym, table tennis hall, tennis courts, squash Court and the main bowl of the National Stadium where he cut a sober look at the sorry state of the structure left to decay due to lack of maintenance.
The minister also inspected the power generation block, the swimming pool complex, the Legacy Pitch, the weightlifting gym, and the facilities at the Indoor Sports Hall where he spent some time watching an ongoing basketball competition.
Speaking during his post-inspection interview, the minister said it is regrettable and a shame for the country which sports have made so proud and famous to have allowed such a huge edify to rot away.
“It’s unfortunate that a national edifice like the National Stadium Lagos is allowed to rot away. This shouldn’t be the symbol of our sports in a city referred to as Sports City. Infact what I saw is not good for sports development of this country and I weep for the facilities “ the minister cried.
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He however, commended business mongul, Aliko Dangote and Premier Lotto Chairman, Kessington Adebutu for the rehabilitation of some of the facilities at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja and National Stadium Surulere, Lagos, respectively.
“I have to admit here that Aliko Dangote and Adebutu have done greatly to give face-lift to the stadium in Abuja and Lagos respectively. We can see that the scoreboard at the main bowl of National Stadium Lagos, the pitch and tartan tracks have been rehabilitated and these were made possible by Adebutu and the federal government appreciates their support,” he acknowledged while endorsing the ongoing concession plan of the stadium 100 per cent.
The minister also assured that his focus will be on the development of sports at the grassroots where functional facilities will be made available in communities and Sports for development to reduce the exit of our athletes to other countries.
