Sport Minister promises Rehabilitation of MKO Abiola Station
In barely 72 hours after assumption into office, the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare is leaving no stone unturned even as he was conducted round the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Olusade Adesola and other officials of the Ministry.
While inspecting the facilities, the Minister stated that against the general perceptions that this place is under total disrepair and not functional, ‘’but what I am seeing here is that this place is 90 per cent functional and what we intend to do is to bring it up to a 100 per cent usage and capacity’’. He further stated that ‘’only South Africa has this kind of Velodrome facility that we have here in Nigeria in Africa’’. The Velodrome as you can see is fully functional because a Cycling competition was recently held here and ended in July.
Dare added that the stadium facilities is impressive and of world class standard which the country should be proud of, stressing that he is happy that the maintenance culture has already gained ground. He emphasized that the entire facilities in the stadium would be maintained including the football pitch before the end of this year bearing any funding constrained.
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The Minister reiterated that the administration of President Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, is committed to youth development because of the critical position the youth is occupying in the country. He also mentioned that the President have charged all the Ministers including himself to look for innovative ways to generate funds beyond the budget.
‘’I am looking at the pitch with a sense of revenue generating possibility through advertising, like is been done in other international stadiums all over the world with different companies advertising over time. A lot of revenue can come from there, we are thinking outside the box’’ the Minister stated.
Addressing the media after the inspection, Mr Sunday Dare wished Team Nigeria delegations to the 12th Africa Games in Morocco a huge success. He stated that ‘’I am glad that the country has excel in Badminton; we are also on our ways to wining the biggest laurel in table tennis.
He encouraged all the athletes that Nigerians stands behind them, urging them to represent the country well and be a good ambassador. ‘’We believe in them and their talents and we are rooting for them even as I wish them a very good outing as they compete with different athletes from different countries’’.
On a final note, the Minister assured that he is going to be a Minister of Youth and Sports Development. ‘’I understand that soccer is loved by most Nigerians, football will get the attention it deserved, adding that in the same vain; Badminton, Cycling, athletics and table tennis and a few other sports, in which we have leverage, will also get equal attention.’’ He promised to find a way to making sure that beyond football, other sports will be speed up.
Olatunji John
Principal Information Officer
For: Director, Press and Public Relations
