President Muhammadu Buhari has "verbally" granted the Lagos State Government the permission to upgrade the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos , for the host of International sporting tournaments. Mr. Kweku Tandoh, Chairman of Lagos State Sports Commission, disclosed this on Tuesday, during the ongoing annual Ministerial Press Briefing at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Lagos.
The Stadium in Surulere, was the ground where Nigeria lifted her first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980. It has been neglected and abandoned since the Abuja National Stadium was constructed to host the 2003 All Africa Games.
According to Tandoh, it was gratifying to report that after series of back and forth, action would commence next week on paperwork for the formal handover of the facility to the State Government.
Tandoh disclosed that the approval for the release was given verbally by the President during his visit to Lagos few weeks ago, while terms of the agreement would now be based not on concession but complete release to the State Government.
The Chairman of the state's sport commission said: “You would recall that the Lagos State Government signified interest in taking over completely the National Stadium and the Governor did not just say it, he actually met with the Minister of Sports and a tour of the facility was carried out.
“One thing later developed and there were signs and signals that the Governor received that they were not actually ready to hand over the Stadium to us rather it seems as if they just wanted a concession agreement where the State Government would spend the money, get it fixed while the Federal Government would still be in place but that is not what Lagos State Government wants.
“So, during the visit of the President to Lagos State few weeks ago, the Governor at the State Dinner was able to grouch the intention again and he mentioned it in his speech to the President and the President verbally gave approval that that was going to be in place. Just yesterday, the Governor directed that I proceed to Abuja next week to deliver some communications that are necessary to put in place a formal handover of the National Stadium to Lagos State Government.
"We are grateful that this time they will give it to us on the terms that the Lagos State Government has requested for,” he explained.
Speaking on the delay in the handover of the stadium to the State Government for upgrade from its present state of decay, he said Governor Ambode is committed to sealing the deal for the total take over of the stadium.
Recall that the stadium was built in 1972, during the regime of former Head of State , General Yakubu Gowon. It hosted the 1973 edition of the All Africa Games , which Nigeria hosted for the first time.
The stadium had a capacity of 55, 000, but was later reduced to 45,000 in 1999 in readiness for the FIFA U- 20 World Cup.
The Sport City played host to the 1980 African Nations Cup, where the then Green Eagles defeated the Desert Warriors of Algeria 3-0 to make history.
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