Sports minister, Barrister Solomon Dalung has hinted that Nigeria will not allow ‘fire brigade approach’ rock their preparations for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, as he says it is already his priority.
Sports247.ng reports that Dalung disclosed as much, while speaking on the ministry’s plans and prospects for 2019, during which he said a lot of attention will also be given infrastructure development.
The basic focus for the structural angle to his programme for the new year, according to Dalung, will be renovation of Lagos National Stadium.
The minister went on to declare that special attention will be given planning for the 2020 Olympics as well as to developmental aspects of sports and welfare of athletes.
Dalung affirmed: “Development of athletes, training and retraining of athletes in preparation for the 2020 Olympics is a priority in 2019.
“Competition for qualification by National Federations is also a priority in 2019.
“Nigerian athletes will do better in the new year if facilities needed for training are upgraded.
“We must fix the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos. If we fix the place, you cannot imagine the number of young people that will be employed as a result and it will improve the economy of Lagos State.
”I have not given up on the renovation of the National Stadium because we are still running a concession process.
“We only have some budgetary constraints but we have included the final phase in the budget of 2019. Once the budget is passed, we will pick up again.
“One of the things that I’m determined to do before I leave office is to ensure the conclusion of the concession of some of these projects so that we can move the private sector to invest and transform it.”
