Tag Archives: National Stadium

We are ready to bring dilapidated National Stadium back to life – Ambode

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Lagos State government has expressed its willingness to renovate the National Stadium Surulere, Lagos. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made the state’s intent known when he paid a condolence and courtesy visit to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, at his residence in Abuja at the weekend.

“I will like to bring the National Stadium to life. The last time a game was played there was in 2005. There is also the employment aspect of football and hosting of matches at the stadium. That includes the jerseys, branding, mama put, the sign writers, the supporters, merchandising, and so on. We want to bring back the football culture of Lagos State to the National Stadium after its renovation,” Ambode said.

Dalung thanked the governor for his visit and praised Lagos for its successful hosting of the second Lagos City Marathon. He called on the state government to add more entertainment and culture to the event in subsequent editions to get more youths involved and to ensure that Nigerians benefit more from the whooping prize money.

 

Source: Guardian

#IStandWithNigeria: Comedian SeyiLaw joins protesters at the National Stadium

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Nigerian comedian SeyiLaw just arrived the National Stadium, Surulere to join the protesters.

 

The comedian, who on Sunday said Innocent ‘2baba’ Idibia only cancelled his participation in the protest, and not the actual event.

 

Seyi Law said the protest is not about the Nigeria music icon but about the demand for good governance by Nigerians.

 

He noted that Nigerians have a right to protest while stating that he understood why 2baba had to pull out.

 

“Please if they won’t let us gather, can we stage a social media revolution for tomorrow and keep tweeting and trend with #NigeriansProtest,” he wrote.

 

“My heart bleeds right now. This is not about Tuface. This is about us and our demand for good governance. God knows I will be at the stadium tomorrow whether people gather or not. I have a right to be at the stadium too.

 

“Tuface has cancelled his own participation not my own. I want to assure you that I will be at the stadium tomorrow. I am giving Nigerians the assurance that I will be at the stadium tomorrow. We have a right to our protest. I absolutely understand @official2baba, but I am not backing out.

 

“These pple think it’s about 2Face. They are mistaken. It is about us. We only appreciate his willingness to stand with us.”

National Stadium In Lagos To Get Face Lift, Dalung Assures

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The Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday in Abuja assured that the National Stadium in Lagos would be given a facelift.

 

Dalung gave the assurance at a news conference while receiving the drawings of the new concept for the stadium.

 

“We are here to receive drawings of the new concept of the National Stadium in Lagos. When we assumed responsibility, our determination was to invest our energies more on trying to complete all uncompleted projects.

 

“At the end of our tenure, if that is what we are able to achieve, we will want posterity to ascribe that to us. I have vowed not to contribute to increasing the catalogue of abandoned projects.

“We are not interested in making names in abandoned projects, but will want to be remembered for giving our modest contributions to complete those projects that were abandoned,’’ he said.

 

The Sports Minister noted that the stadium was very critical to the country’s sports development.

 

“No country can maintain its image in the face of neglect. Therefore, we are here to try to rewrite history,’’ he said.

 

Dalung however pointed out that one major problem in Nigeria was the absence of a culture of maintenance.

 

“I think one major problem is the absence of the maintenance culture and, as part of the change agenda, we are going to reinforce the maintenance culture in Nigeria.

“We should spend what we have to maintain what we have. It is better than going on the adventure of creating so many things we are not going to maintain,’’ he said.

The minister said the drawings would be discussed with the ministry’s management and the most viable option would be adopted to realise the desired dream.

“We will discuss at the ministry level to know whether we are going to concession it or lease it or go for the Public Private Partnership (PPP),’’ he said.

 

Dalung said this would however take place after approval and unveiling of the drawings and analyses of the cost implication.

 

He promised to leave the stadium better than it was, adding that attention would also be given to other sports facilities which have been abandoned across the country.

 

Displaying the drawings, Hart Bankat, the Managing Director, Mayus Construction, who are the project’s consultants, said the 30-year-old stadium needed rehabilitation.

 

“The present state of the stadium is worrisome and it needs urgent attention,’’ he said.

 

(NAN)