Minister of Sports, John Enoh, says his tour of the Lagos National Stadium in Surulere brought tears to his eyes, The PUNCH reports.
Enoh, who was recently appointed as successor to Sunday Dare two weeks ago, inspected the facilities which are still undergoing rehabilitation.
The Lagos National Stadium in Surulere has fallen into disrepair over the last two decades with Dare beginning its redevelopment two years ago with the financial assistance of lottery magnate Kessignton Adebutu.
The 57-year-old visited the main bowl of the Lagos National Stadium, the administrative building of the National Institute for Sports, the Brai Ayanote boxing gymnasium, the indoor sports hall, the swimming pool, the Table Tennis Federation, the Squash Federation, the viewing centre and the stadium’s power generator station.
He also visited the sports medical centre, the Games Village hostels, Legacy Pitch, as well as the courts for different sports federations.
During his tour of the stadium, Enoh was in the company of the former Super Eagles captain, Daniel Amokachi, the Director General of the National Institute for Sports Olawale Moronkola, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mallam Ismaila, Director of Facilities, Abolore Alanomu and the stadium manager Fatima Adebanjo.
Expressing his displeasure at the state of the Lagos National Stadium, Enoh said, “I weep for the state of this infrastructure (Lagos National Stadium). This should not be the symbol of our sports in a city referred to as a sports city.
“The overall feeling is that of disappointment whose potential can surpass that of other nations.
“We need to look for smart and quick solutions to revive the Lagos National Stadium as soon as possible.
“I am glad that the process towards the concession of the facility has gone far. If that is what it will take to restore the glory of this facility, I endorse it 100 per cent.”
Enoh also added that the maintenance of the facilities is important, not to repeat the mistakes of the past, that resulted in decadent infrastructure.
“We must be careful and make something happen quickly, so that the facilities we have working, don’t fall into the same sorry state of shame.”
The National Stadium in Surulere was built in 1972 and was the hub of Nigerian sports, hosting major tournaments including the All Africa Games in 1973, the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 and 2000 as well as the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1999.
