Ambode eager to commence repair works
By Paul Erewuba
The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, yesterday slammed the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos describing it as a national embarrassment.
The minister said this in Lagos, after he inspected the edifice with the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on why the edifice should be transferred to the Lagos state government.
The Minister lamented the poor state of the sports complex, once the pride of the nation.
“The national stadium which was regarded as a monument of our national history has become a national embarrassment. It is in a very sorry state as the level of dilapidation can never be compared to our level of civilisation.
“That is why I welcome the decision of the Lagos State government to step in to restore our national pride and bring it back to a state we all can be proud of.”
Governor Ambode on his part thanked President Mohammadu Buhari who has approved the takeover adding that it was in line with federal government’s decision on the Ahmadu Bello Stadium which has been handed over to the Kaduna State government, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium handed over to Enugu State Government and the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar which has been given to the Cross River State Government.
“We can’t fold our arms and watch this monument continue to rot away. We intend to renovate the stadium facilities and bring it back to its prime position as sports city where other sports can also be developed.
“I promised Lagosians during my electioneering campaigns that I will use sports, tourism, entertainment and arts to increase the GDP of Lagos and we have not shifted from that stance,” Ambode concluded.