FG to concession Lagos, Abuja stadia

By The Citizen

The Federal Government yesterday said the Abuja and Lagos National stadia are to be concessioned to interested private organiations as government could no longer fund the maintenance  of the stadia.

Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi who disclosed this while briefing state house correspondents after yesterday's Federal Executive Council meeting  noted that the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is working on the details of the planned concessioning.

According to him, the maintenance of other national stadia located in Enugu, Bauchi, Kaduna and Ibadan in Oyo States are to be taken over by the State Governments who expressed interests in such stadium, noting that the President has already approved the request by Enugu State Government to take over the stadium in the state while Bauchi's request was being considered.

According to him, the Federal Government would encourage Kaduna and Oyo States to also make similar request to take over maintenance of the stadia located in the two states.

Abdullahi explained that out of the 42 Sports Federations, the Federal Government have decided to concentrate on the funding of sixFederations in the country which  include Football, Boxing, Wrestling, Athletics, Shooting, weightlifting.

He noted that though the Federation would continue to function, the government would no longer fund the six Sports Federations that have been seen not to be feasible.

'Other Sports Federations would continue to work but we are not going to fund all the Federations since it is not feasible though we are still going to give support and they all have qual opportunities to compete for government attention and recognition', Abdullahi said