Ogun commissioner for sports, Wasiu Isiaka, has assured that facilities used for the National Sports Festival will be properly maintained and not allowed to rot away.

Mr Isiaka gave the assurance during a news conference on Saturday at the ongoing 22nd National Sports Festival (NSF) in Abeokuta.

The commissioner said the state government would explore a public-private partnership to ensure that the facilities were appropriately maintained and effectively managed.

According to him, Ogun has four stadia and other sports centres that the government alone may not be able to maintain, hence the need for a partnership.

“A swimming pool, for example, is a technical facility that, if anybody must manage it, they must have the technical know-how to maintain it, and that means that we are going to have a partnership.

“And there is no way you can bring the private sector to manage that kind of investment that they will not manage well to the level that will be beneficial to both of you.

“I can assure you that none of those facilities will be allowed to rot away.

“We have invested so much in the facilities, and the government is planning to ensure that they get real value for the investment in it. I can assure you for free that none of it will be allowed to waste away like that,” he said.

He also disclosed that the state is planning to construct chalets inside the MKO Abiola sports arena.

He added that the arena would be divided into three: the chalets, a recreational area and the sporting complex.

“We’re not just hosting the National Sports Festival in Ogun State; we’re actually coming up with a good and solid sport development system.

“Ogun will soon be a point of call as far as sports is concerned,” he said.

(NAN)