Sports Minister In Late Night Visit To Sportscity, Angrily Orders National Stadium, Lagos Closed Again

IKPO IGBINOBA 

An angry Nigeria’s Sports Minister Sunday Dare on Friday night ordered the closure of National Stadium, Surulere. in Lagos

The minister who was on an unscheduled trip to the stadium stumbled on the Ojez drinking parlour operating at full blast in defiance of a ministerial directive.

The  Stadium had been under lock and key since March last year when the federal government ordered a national lockdown in response to the Covid -19 pandemic. While other public places were reopened late last year, following the easing of the lockdown, the National Stadium was not reopened because proposed renovation.

It was however partially reopened three weeks ago for sporting activities.

According to sources, the Ojez drinking parlour located in the swimming pool arena had been operating secretly.

“A whistleblower hinted the Minister of the breach of his directive by Ojez drinking parlour”, one of those who witnessed the drama told P/M EXPRESS.

“You can’t believe it, the Minister came at about 9 pm. In fact, we all thought he was still in Benin City where he had gone for a meeting earlier in the day to discuss the National Sports Festivial.

“The minister was very angry with what he saw and he wielded the hammer by asking the drinking parlour to close shop immediately”.

Those who usually train at the stadium on Saturdays couldn’t access the facility as the gates were locked.

The Ojez drinking parlour is owned by businessman Mr. Joseph Odeabeaku who is a member of the Nigeria Swimming Federation. Unconfirmed ministry sources hinted P.M EXPRESS that the Swimming Pool had been concessioned to the Ojez group.