The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and Minister of Youth Development and Sports Mr. Solomon Dalung on Wednesday called for an urgent handover of the National Stadium abandoned by the Federal Government in Lagos, to the state government to enable it handle the renovation and manage it effectively.
Speaking after embarking on extensive inspection tour of the facilities in the Stadium alongside the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Solomon Dalung; Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick and other top government functionaries, Governor declared the readiness of the state government to take over the Surulere National Stadium from the Federal Government and transform it from its present deplorable condition to a world class sporting centre.
Ambode who decried the decayed infrastructure in the stadium expressed preparedness to hit the ground running towards restoring the old glory of the stadium once officially handed over to the state.
He said: “This visit is very historic. I recall that during our campaign, we promised that we are going to use tourism, entertainment and arts and sports to drive youth employment as well as drive excellence. So, this is just one chapter in that roadmap to growing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Lagos.
“With the state of affairs here, we cannot fold our arms and just leave this monument to just waste away. The last match that was played here was played about fifteen years ago but the truth is this, the inner key to youth empowerment and youth employment is actually in re-establishing this edifice to its real world class standard,” he said.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for approving that the Ahmadu Bello Stadium be given to Kaduna State as well as Enugu Stadium and Calabar Stadium be given to Enugu and Akwa Ibom state governments respectively.
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