Minister Assures On Speedy Completion Of Moshood Abiola, Surulere Lagos Stadiums

Minister of Youth and Sports Development Chief Sunday Dare has assured that the on going rehabilitation work at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja and National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos will be accelerated and completed as quickly possible.

Speaking on Sunday, the Minister said: “The on going rehabilitation work at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium undertaken by Alhaji Aliko Dangote and the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos courtesy of Chief Adebutu Kensington will soon be completed. The National Stadium, Lagos was abandoned for so many years. We started by ejecting illegal occupants, cleared illegal structures to bring out the beauty of the edifice which is comparable to any top stadium in the world. By the schedule of the contractors, the rehabilitation will be completed by June.”

The Minister  insists  that “things have changed from the way we met them, the adopt a pitch initiative  is working,  adopt an athlete is also yielding results. One of the things that gives me the most concern is the welfare of athletes,  both retired and active. The retired ones  are not well catered  for. We muted  the idea of  setting  up the athletes welfare fund, later changed to Sports  Development  Fund. We have spoken to the NFF, AFN to set up welfare scheme to assist those who are in need of support. We started with assistance  to the mothers of Late Rashidi  Yekini, Samuel Okwaraji,  Sunday Bada and  Ali Jeje Ibrahim. We also  supported  the injured female basketball player who needed surgery. We worked closely with  the Lagos State Government  to assist Yisa Sofoluwe, unfortunately  he could not survive. We shall continue  to do our best to improve  the welfare of our sports  men and women”, Chief Dare assured.