The Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, has officially flagged off and handed over the pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to
The Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, has officially flagged off and handed over the pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to the Dangote Group, for the commencement of the facility’s rehabilitation.
According to a statement issued from the media office of the minister, the rehabilitation to be carried out by Aron Nigeria Limited will be done within 24 weeks. Speaking at the handing over ceremony, Dare asserted that the promise made on the assumption of office a year ago, that the pitch and indeed other facilities will be revived, is in line with the ministry’s policy of Adopt Campaign.
The minister thanked the President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, for responding to the call to restore the edifice as well as for believing in the vision of the ministry by agreeing to partner with it to restore the fading glory of the edifice.
The minister further asserted, ‘This landmark event reinforces my faith in the public-private sector partnership in line with Government’s efforts at delivering on our mandate. Government alone cannot fund sports and maintain facilities. We need more private corporations to take a cue from what Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chief Adebutu Kessington have done in supporting our drive to renovate and maintain our facilities for use by our athletes and to play host to international events.
While urging the contractor to move with the speed of light, Dare said the government had imbibed a proper maintenance culture to guarantee that the huge sum spent on these projects are not wasted.
Speaking during the event, the representative of Dangote Group, Ahmed Mansur, stated that the Company was committing One Million US Dollars to the project, to ensure that the main bowl pitch of Moshood Abiola Stadium is restored to world-class.
The ceremony was witnessed by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Obinna Ogba; President of the Nigeria Olympics Committee, Habu Gumel; Alhassan Yakmut, Special Assistant to the President On Sports; Daniel Amokachi; Nwankwo Kanu, Garba Lawal, Tijani Babangida, Chika Chukwumerije, and Gabriel Okon; and an impressive array of ex-internationals, who were in attendance to lend support to the minister.
