L-R: Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr Deji Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Minister for Sports and Youth Development, Solomon Dalung, during the inspection of facilities at the National Stadium,Surulere in Lagos on Wednesday
Governor
Akinwumi Ambode on Wednesday said that Lagos State Government would ensure that
the dilapidated National Stadium would be turned into an enduring world class
facility instead of being a waste.
Ambode
made the assertion when he spoke with newsmen after a joint inspection tour of
the National Stadium, purportedly abandoned about 11 years ago, with the
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung.
That
the concession bid for the national edifice was first muted when Ambode paid a
condolence visit to Dalung in Abuja on February 18.
Ambode riding on the crest of the
approval by the Federal Government to concession some of the national stadia to
the resident state governments, asked for a stake by the state government. The
Federal Government had already given the nod to the Kaduna State Government to
manage the Ahmadu Bello Stadium and gave the same approval to Enugu State and
Cross River Governments.
Ambode said that if the concession could pull through, the
state government would ensure that the stadium was given a facelift.
“I will like to bring the National Stadium back to life. The
last time a game was played here was in 2005.
“If this project pulls through, it will bring about the
employment aspect of football and hosting of matches to the stadium.
“We want to bring back the football culture of Lagos State
to the National Stadium after its renovation,’’ Ambode said.
On the historic inspection tour of national stadium with
Dalung, Ambode restated the commitment of his government to ensure that the
once national pride was brought back to its former glory.
“I want to establish the fact that we want to put this
facility back to the real world standard and we have the layers of employment
to achieve this and even to create a family bonding.
“I want to also to thank Mr President, Muhammadu Buhari, who
have graciously approved that the Ahmadu Bello Stadium should be given to the
Kaduna State and also Enugu and Calabar stadia to the state governments.
“What we asked for is not as if we are aggressive, we just
think we should stand up for leadership here and take over the National Stadium
here in Lagos.
“I think we should do something for my generation and also
bequeath something to the generations coming behind that we are not generation
of wasters,’’ he said.
Ambode said that the government already had a plan for the
stadium; a plan which he restated would be enduring in keeping the edifice in a
good condition.
“We already have our own plan to create a new national
stadium of our dream. I don’t like making promises but I am tired of watching
Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea.
“I want to watch Dalung Babes and maybe Asiwaju Babes. We
want to create within the 20 Local Government Areas of the state, 20 teams that
may form a premier league.
“We also want to allow those that want to develop clubs to
do so and which, of course, we will allow to happen maybe before the year runs
out or next season.
“We will put up a framework that works because besides
football, the stadium is also for other sports such as Athletics, Swimming
Basketball and Family sport,’’ he said.
Ambode said that the government would create an
all-inclusive infrastructure that would allow for family bonding which would be
beneficial to all.
“I want to say that this is the beginning of a process that
will lead to the final pronouncement. We don’t want to leave it there, what we
are dreaming here is the takeover of the National Stadium,’’ he said.
Speaking, Dalung said the Lagos State Government must ensure
a good maintenance culture to facilitate the concession of the stadium to the
state.
Dalung expressed displeasure with the dilapidated state of
the structure which among others hosted the All Africa Games in 1973, Africa
Cup of Nations in 2000 final between Cameroon and Nigeria and the 1999 U-21 World
Cup.
“This visit is very important because it has provided us
with the information of how we got to where we are today and the steps we can
take in the future to forestall it.
“We have gone round, we have seen the edifice is in a sorry
state, the level of dilapidation is very embarrassing and it can never be
equated with our civilisation as a people.
“The management of this stadium is fundamental because water
and light are very important to its sustenance,’’ the minister said.
NAN reports that some of the facilities inspected include
the Knock-up Hall, Indoor Sports Hall, Legacy Pitch Astroturf and the main bowl
of the stadium, the VIP stand and Players changing rooms.
Hi. I’m Sana ur Rehman Designer of This Blog. I’m CEO/Founder of Pak Zest. I’m Creative Art Director, Web Designer, UI/UX Designer, Interaction Designer, Industrial Designer, Web Developer, Business Enthusiast, StartUp Enthusiast, Speaker, Writer and Photographer. Inspired to make things looks better.
0 comments:
Post a Comment