Abaranje/Okerube communities in Alimosho local government of Lagos State have cried out to Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to build sports centres in the communities so that the youth of the areas will find the facilities useful to keep themselves busy.
In the past, sports lovers used to go to Abaranje/Okerube primary school located at Olakunle bus stop, Abaranje, until when former Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode ordered the prohibition of sporting activities in all public schools in the state.
The Baale (traditional ruler) of Abaranje, His Royal Majesty, Lamidi Hassan confirmed that it is very unfortunate that the two communities could not boast of a single sports centres to keep the youth actively engage in sporting activities
“It is true that the two communities in Alimosho local government do not have sports centres where our youth can exercise their body or involve in sporting activities. In the past, they used Abaranje/Okerube primary school. It was during Ambode’s tenure that sporting activities were banned in public schools and up till now, our youth travel far and near before they can engage in sporting activities. This is not too good for the two communities,” he said.
Baale Hassan, who commended Sanwo-Olu’s government on sports development. He, however, urged him to look into the problem of sports centres in the communities immediately government lifts ban on sports in Lagos amid COVID-19 pandemic in the state.
In his own comment, chairman of Fowosere Queens, Oluwadamilare Adejayan popularly known as Fowosere expressed his frustration the situation. He said his club had stopped training for some years because there is no playground or any sports centre where his team can be training.
“I have lost all my players both male and female to various clubs because we don’t have any sports centre or a standard football playground where we can train. If Governor Sanwo-Olu can look into this matter the better for his government. We cannot talk about sports development without sports centres in Lagos,” he concluded.
