Dalung arrives in Lagos for National Stadium handover talks

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, will begin a two-day working visit of the National Stadium Surulere and various youth centres in the state tomorrow, Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, Nneka Anibeze, has disclosed.

The visit is connected with the plan by the ministry to hand over the National Stadium to Lagos State government. According to Anibeze, “the inspection begins what will eventually end up as a cooperation between the Federal Government and Lagos State to renovate the National Stadium. The edifice has continued to dilapidate after the last international game was played in the main bowl in 2005.”

Anibeze revealed that Governor Ambode expressed intent to give the stadium a face-lift last week, when he paid a courtesy and condolence visit to Dalung in Abuja.

Ambode had at the condolence visit tabled his intention of bringing the National Stadium to life. He said, “If this project pulls through, it will bring about the employment aspect of football and hosting of matches at the stadium. We want to bring back the football culture of Lagos State to the National Stadium after its renovation.”

Anibeze revealed that most stadia in the country had been up for concession following Federal Government’s inability to fund the renovations of most of the football grounds.

Dalung had earlier said, “We were trying to drive a concession but Lagos State’s interest in the National Stadium is what we call an overriding interest which is based on equity. If Governor Ambode is interested in the National Stadium then the concession process is already abated.”

While at the stadium, Dalung and Governor Ambode would inspect the stadium to assess the level of work to be done there before visiting the various youth centres in the state.