Sen. John Enoh, the minister of sports development, was visibly moved on Thursday by the pathetic condition of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, and he declared, “I weep for this place, I earnestly weep.”
The Minister reportedly visited the stadium’s facilities to have a firsthand look at the historic sports complex that was established in 1973, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to NAN, the minister spent over three hours touring the stadium’s facilities, including the guesthouse, boxing, wrestling, paralympics, and athletics gyms.
The minister also stopped by the tennis court, the pool arena, the media room, the indoor sports hall, the table tennis hall, and other locations.
Enoh spoke to the media at the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) Boardroom following the inspection, when he voiced his concerns and bemoaned the pitiful condition of the 55-seat stadium.
“I’m in Surulere, Nigeria, at National Stadium today. I cry for the facility; I sincerely cry for this location.
“I’ve seen a variety of sports, and I even got to witness a live basketball game at an indoor sports arena that was sponsored by a specific person.
“I made a quick remark and stated that the private sector is the best way to expand sports, with the government merely needing to provide guidance.
He added, “This country owes a great deal to individuals like Alhaji Aliko Dangote for spending his personal wealth to repair MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja and Sir Kessington Adebutu’s efforts to repair National Stadium in Surulere.
Enoh continued, “I can picture how it would have been if I had arrived here and discovered that the stadium’s field, tartan track and electronic scoreboard were all broken.
“The stadium’s condition would have been worse, and I might have cried more.” Although it has undergone several changes, this facility hosted the All African Games in 1973.
“This stadium’s condition shouldn’t represent our sport, especially in a place called ‘Sport City,'” the player said.
“I am pleased with how far the process towards the future concessioning of this institution has progressed, and if that is what will restore this facility to its former splendour, I will fully support it.
“I was also told about the botched MKO Abiola Stadium maintenance agreement with Julius Berger, and if we are not careful, and if we don’t act quickly, Abuja Stadium will suffer the same fate as Lagos,” the speaker continued.
President Bola Tinubu established a separate ministry of sports, according to Enoh, in order to give the industry the attention it needed as a foundation for social inclusion.
“I praise God that President Tinubu funded the Ministry of Sports, allowing issues impacting the industry to be tackled more clearly and directly.
“I came to this job with a passion that defined who I am, and I believe that this ministry needs leadership,” the applicant said. Maybe I don’t have to be an athlete to be a minister in charge of sports.
“What I need is enthusiasm and dedication to lead, and I am confident that I will have the president’s support because he personally insisted that I be appointed minister of sport.
No industry can more effectively energise the nation’s grassroots than sports, which also serves as a platform for social inclusion for the underprivileged, according to him. I must have a reason for being in sports. (NAN)
