The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) in Ondo State has decried the abandonment of the Akure Township Stadium despite approval for its renovation by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

“The congress is not happy with the abandonment of the renovation project of the Akure Stadium (Ondo State Sports Complex), three months after the contract had been awarded by the state government, thereby making economic activities to be totally grounded within and around the sports complex,” SWAN said in a communique on Friday after its monthly congress presided over by its chairman, Segun Giwa.

In June, Mr Aiyedatiwa, through the State Executive Council (SEC), the state’s highest decision-making body, approved the renovation of the sports facility to the Reform Sports West Africa.

SWAN said the abandonment hindered athletes’ access to the stadium and asked Mr Aiyedatiwa to visit the facility.

“The congress, however, called on Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to visit the sports complex himself and see the next line of action as future champions are not having access to facilities to train, especially with his promise to build a new stadium, the old one should be maintained,” it said.

SWAN also kicked against the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development’s action of not sponsoring any association member to the just concluded National Youths Games in Asaba, Delta state.

It asked Mr Aiyedatiwa to appoint a board for the Ondo State Sports Council like he did for the football agency to engender all-round development.

In a swift reaction to the abandoned renovation work at the stadium, the commissioner for youths and sports development in the state, Saka Ogunleye, said the contractor handling the project had moved to the site.

“Be informed that the contractor has since moved to the site, with the construction work ongoing at the hockey pitch where the old synthetic surface at the football pitch will be used.

“The contractor has started work since his mobilisation, removing the old surface for the hockey pitch and ready to lay a new one having been procured,” Mr Saka added.