Sport Minister promises
Sport Minister promises Rehabilitation of MKO Abiola
Station
In barely 72 hours after assumption into office, the Honourable
Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare is leaving
no stone unturned even as he was conducted round the MKO Abiola
National Stadium, Abuja, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mr
Olusade Adesola and other officials of the Ministry.
While inspecting the facilities, the Minister stated that
against the general perceptions that this place is under total
disrepair and not functional, ‘’but what I am seeing here is that
this place is 90 per cent functional and what we intend to do is to
bring it up to a 100 per cent usage and capacity’’. He further
stated that ‘’only South Africa has this kind of Velodrome facility
that we have here in Nigeria in Africa’’. The Velodrome as you can
see is fully functional because a Cycling competition was recently
held here and ended in July.
Dare added that the stadium facilities is impressive and of
world class standard which the country should be proud of,
stressing that he is happy that the maintenance culture has already
gained ground. He emphasized that the entire facilities in the
stadium would be maintained including the football pitch before the
end of this year bearing any funding constrained.
The Minister reiterated that the administration of President
Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, is committed to youth development because
of the critical position the youth is occupying in the country. He
also mentioned that the President have charged all the Ministers
including himself to look for innovative ways to generate funds
beyond the budget.
‘’I am looking at the pitch with a sense of revenue generating
possibility through advertising, like is been done in other
international stadiums all over the world with different companies
advertising over time. A lot of revenue can come from there, we are
thinking outside the box’’ the Minister stated.
Addressing the media after the inspection, Mr Sunday Dare wished
Team Nigeria delegations to the 12th Africa Games in Morocco a huge
success. He stated that ‘’I am glad that the country has excel in
Badminton; we are also on our ways to wining the biggest laurel in
table tennis.
He encouraged all the athletes that Nigerians stands behind
them, urging them to represent the country well and be a good
ambassador. ‘’We believe in them and their talents and we are
rooting for them even as I wish them a very good outing as they
compete with different athletes from different countries’’.
On a final note, the Minister assured that he is going to be a
Minister of Youth and Sports Development. ‘’I understand that
soccer is loved by most Nigerians, football will get the attention
it deserved, adding that in the same vain; Badminton, Cycling,
athletics and table tennis and a few other sports, in which we have
leverage, will also get equal attention.’’ He promised to find a
way to making sure that beyond football, other sports will be speed
up.
Olatunji John
Principal Information Officer
For: Director, Press and Public Relations