Sunday Dare, minister of Youth and Sports Development has reiterated his commitment to the renovation of Moshood Abiola national stadium main bowl pitch which has been proposed to be re-grassed and rehabilitated to world-class standard by April 2021 during his handover ceremony of the pitch to the contractor for the re-grassing, fixing of scoreboards and rehabilitation of the main bowl in Abuja with the stadium set to be completed in 24 weeks.
The minister had earlier in November 2019 announced a partnership with Africa’s richest man Alhaji Aliko Dangote for the rehabilitation of the stadium with initial plans to have the stadium ready by March but the outbreak of the global Coronavirus and some contractual details stalled the takeoff of the project.
Dare while handing over the project to the contractor said the feat will bring back the stadium to global reckoning as the citadel of sporting excellence, “It gives me great honor to welcome you all to the handing over ceremony of the main bowl pitch of the Moshood Abiola National stadium to the Contractor, Aron Nig. Ltd. for the rehabilitation works in fulfillment of our promise to restore this great edifice as a citadel of sporting excellence and an action spot for our sportsmen and women.”
The minister, however, tasked other willing contributors, stakeholders, public figures to inhibit the gesture of Dangote (to spend one million dollars to rehabilitate the stadium, thereby creating an avenue for Nigerian youths to thrive and also stimulate the economy ) and Chief Adebutu Kesington in a bid to renovate and maintain sporting facilities across the country as he boldly expressed his optimism that the “adopt a pitch/athlete” initiative by the ministry will go a long way in developing and producing world-class sports facilities and athletes in the country.
