Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has revealed that the ministry of Youths and Sports Development needs a colossal sum of N81 million to cut-off grasses that have over-grown all over the the National Stadium called MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Mr Dare who disclosed this in Abuja while speaking at a one-day seminar hosted by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), FCT chapter said the assessment was conducted by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
According to the Minister, the AEPB turned in a curious amount of N81 million as the sum needed to wed-off the grasses that have taken over the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
The Minister said his ministry had approached the AEPB to provide a financial projection that would be required to cut the grasses at the stadium which was constructed in 2003 at the estimated cost of N53 billion covering about 72 acres of land.
Recall that the constructed stadium which houses the Main Bowl (Package A) and other related facilities like basketball courts, NFF office, volleyball courts, tennis courts, squash courts(Package B ) is quite gigantic, as it spread over a large expanse of 72 acres of land.
Dare explained how the ministry came about the figures: “We approached AEPB to come see what can be done to clear the grass and weed in the stadium and they told us it will cost us N81m.
“If we tell Nigerians we used N81m which is not even available, there will be an outcry. The funds are not really there for us and that is why we are partnering with private investors to bring back the key components of our infrastructures.”
