Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi
Ambode on Wednesday declared the readiness of the State Government to take over
the Surulere National Stadium from the Federal Government and transform the
facility from its present deplorable condition to a world class sporting
centre.
Speaking after embarking on an
extensive inspection tour of the facilities in the Stadium alongside the
Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung; Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and other top government functionaries,
Governor Ambode said it was unfortunate how things had degenerated, but expressed
preparedness to hit the ground running towards restoring the old glory of the
Stadium once officially handed over to the State.
The Governor, who recalled how
enthusiastic and interesting it was for people in the past to visit the
Surulere Stadium even with their families to watch matches and catch fun among
others, said repositioning the Stadium would not only help to bring about
layers of employment but that it would also facilitate family bonding.
He said: “This visit is very
historic. I recall that during our campaign, we promised that we are going to
use tourism, entertainment and arts and sports to drive youth employment as
well as drive excellence. So, this is just one chapter in that roadmap to
growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Lagos.
“With the state of affairs here, we
cannot fold our arms and just leave this monument to just waste away. The last
match that was played here was about fifteen years ago but the truth is this,
the inner key to youth empowerment and youth employment is actually in
re-establishing this edifice to its real world class standard,” he said.
The Governor thanked President
Muhammadu Buhari for graciously approving that the Ahmadu Bello Stadium be
given to Kaduna State as well as Enugu Stadium and Calabar Stadium be given to
Enugu and Akwa Ibom State Governments respectively.
“What we ask for in Lagos is not as
if we are being aggressive, we just think that we need to stand up for
leadership here and take over the National Stadium,” the Governor said.
The Governor also commended the
Sports Minister for spearheading the move to handover the Stadium to Lagos
State and expressed optimism that the journey which had started would
eventually lead to a formal pronouncement.
He said aside the fact that the
State Government was already planning to construct five stadia in the five
administrative divisions of the State to grow sports, the government also has a
functional agency in charge of facility management, assuring that the Surulere
Stadium would be properly and efficiently managed once handed over to the
State.
Earlier, Dalung lamented the
dilapidated condition of the Stadium which he described as a national disaster,
just as he called for serious and comprehensive action to reposition the
Stadium and return it to its pride of place.
While expressing confidence in the
ability of the State Government to transform it, Dalung specially thanked
Governor Ambode for his interest and commitment to the success of the move to
reposition the Stadium.
“We have gone round and we have seen
the edifice in a sorry state. Whatever we can do to arrest the situation, we
must do it. In my village, there is an adage, which says once there is fire
disaster, there is no choice of liquid and any liquid that can contribute to
extinguish the fire, must be mobilized including liquor. But today, we have a
disaster and we must do everything possible to extinguish it.
“I want to thank the Governor for
finding time to come. I have received what I can call football gossip from
football federation that if the Surulere Stadium is handed over to Lagos and
renovated in six months, the next match of Nigeria against Zambia would be
played here,” the Minister said.
He also appealed to Governor Ambode
to revamp the Stationary Stores Football Club of Lagos.
Some of the facilities inspected at
the Stadium include the Molade Okoya Tennis Hall, 3000 Capacity Multi-Purpose
Indoor Sports Hall, Beach Soccer Pitch, Synthetic Football Pitch and the 38,000
Capacity Main Bowl Football Field.
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Sports