Clearing of grass at Abuja national stadium to cost 81 million Naira – Sunday Dare, Sports Minister

The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare during a one-day seminar organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter in Abuja has revealed that it will cost the Sports ministry a total of N81m to cut the grass and clear the weed has engulfed the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Dare further made known that the ministry did approach the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for assessment in the stadium and result of the assessment was being considered to arrive at such cost.

The stadium which segmented into Package A which include the Main Bowl and Package B containing facilities like basketball courts, NFF office, volleyball courts, tennis courts, squash courts.

The minister stated that they are trying to find partners that will help in the provision of the 81 million naira in order to avoid public criticism and out cry if the project is solely financed by the Ministry.

“If we tell Nigerians we used N81m which is not even available, there will be an outcry. The funds are not really there for us and that is why we are partnering with private investors to bring back the key components of our infrastructures,” Dare said.

It is even more interesting to know that the stadium was in 2003 using N53 billion but has suffered from lack of maintenance culture which has forced matches involving both male and female National teams to be played in different stadiums across the nation in what has been a sad development for years and still counting.