The Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, could not hide his emotion over the sorry state of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, saying, “I weep for this place, I earnestly weep.”

Mr Enoh was on a facility tour of the stadium to have first-hand information on the iconic sports centre built in 1973.

He went around every facility in the stadium, from the entrance to the main bowl, the hostel, boxing, wrestling, para and athletics gyms.

The minister also visited the tennis court, swimming pool arena, media room where a programme was ongoing, indoor sports hall, and table tennis hall, among others.

Mr Enoh, after the inspection, addressed the press at the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC) board room, where he expressed his reservations and decried the parlous state of the stadium.

“This country is greatly indebted to personalities like Alhaji Aliko Dangote for using his personal funds to fix MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja, and Sir Kessington Adebutu’s efforts to fix National Stadium, Surulere.

“I can imagine how it would have been if I found this place in a mess without the electronic scoreboard, tartan track, and the field of the stadium not fixed.

“The state of the stadium would have been worse, and I could have wept more. This facility is the one used for the All African Games in 1973, but it has gone through a lot.

“I am glad that the process towards the eventual concession of this facility has gone far, and if that is what is going to take this facility back to its lost glory, I will endorse it 100 per cent,” the minister said.

Mr Enoh said the reason for having a stand-alone ministry of sports was to give the sector the attention required as a base for social inclusion.

“I thank God President Tinubu provided for the Ministry of Sports so that matters affecting the sector can be discussed more directly and specifically,” he said. 

(NAN)