Permanent Secretary of the Nasarawa State Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Chief Barr. Isaac Danladi has vowed to do everything within his power to transform the Lafia Golf Course.
Danladi made the disclosure when he paid an unscheduled visit to the facility along the Lafia-Makurdi expressway on Monday.
After being taken on a tour of the facility by the Captain of the Lafia Golf Club, Augustine Agbadu Okyuwa, the Permanent Secretary expressed dissatisfaction with the condition of the facility which he described as world-class.
“What I have seen here is quite unprecedented. This is my first time here.
“I am satisfied with the structure on the ground and the privileged information available to me has it that this is one of the largest Golf Courses we have in Central Nigeria with the exception of the IBB Golf Course in Abuja and Rukuba Golf Course in Jos.
“Unfortunately, what we have here has not been adequately put to use.
“There is an uncompleted clubhouse, the mowing machines are in bad condition, the pots are brownish instead of greenish, the grasses are not well mowed, there is encroachment as I was told some hoodlums broke through one portion of the parameter fence and the environment doesn’t befit what a standard Golf Club should look like.
“Nevertheless, I have taken inventory of everything here together with the Director of Facilities of the Ministry, and I will advice the Government appropriately in order to get this beautiful facility and equipment running according to global standards.”
The Permanent Secretary revealed that he had interfaced with the contractor handling the project, which he said is at an eighty percent completion level, and started a discussion on how to get Government to complete it.
He said Government is considering the option of concessioning the facility in order to generate more revenue.
Also, he expressed plans to work with development partners to take advantage of the large expanse of land where the Golf Course is located to recommend to the Government to build a five-star hotel where tourists, families, and investors can come to spend their leisure periods.
Danladi assured that Government would take drastic measures to checkmate encroachment on the facility by hoodlums.
