The Osun State government says it has begun remodelling six stadia across the state that were abandoned by former governor Rauf Aregbesola after his administration inherited them from his predecessor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola.

In an interview with Peoples Gazette on Monday, the Deputy Governor Kola Adewusi, who doubles as commissioner for sports, confirmed that the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke had commenced work on the stadia after years of neglect under the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“I was part of Oyinlola’s administration before Aregbesola came on board. Oyinlola earmarked money for all the stadia, and work had already started before the APC government came in. But former governor Aregbesola’s administration abandoned the projects and his administration even attempted to sell off some of the stadium lands before the communities resisted,” Mr Adewusi said.

“As Commissioner for Sports, I can tell you that the stadiums we met were nothing to write home about. Now, we are remodelling, using covered seats in the main bowl. There will be hostels and hotels within the stadium premises. The main bowl will be strictly for sporting activities, not social functions. We want to meet international standards,” the deputy governor added.

He disclosed that the remodelling efforts began in the first quarter of 2025, with the Osogbo stadium expected to be completed within one year. He also noted that the state had secured hosting rights for a sports event next year, while work on the Osogbo stadium was nearing completion before extending efforts to Ife, Ede, Iwo, Ikirun and Ilesa. “Once we are done with Osogbo, the next phase is the five other stadia. We are also establishing the Osun State Sports Commission, which has passed second reading and will soon be assented to by the governor after third reading, and next would be the creation of the Osun State Sports Trust Fund to sustain our plans by bringing in the private sector and philanthropists,” Mr Adewusi said.

Mr Aregbesola abandoned the stadium projects during his tenure, while the state also experienced a prolonged salary crisis, with civil servants owed several months of wages and, in some instances, receiving half-salaries.

The situation drew widespread complaints and protests from workers as households across Osun struggled under the economic strain. His successor, Gboyega Oyetola, inherited the backlog of arrears and spent a significant part of his administration addressing the wage liabilities.

However, the stadium projects remained unattended throughout his tenure and continued in a state of disrepair until the Adeleke administration initiated fresh remodelling efforts earlier this year.

The Ifẹ Soccer Ambassadors’ Association, a grassroots football body in the state, has been at the forefront of calls for the revitalisation of the long-neglected sports facilities, particularly the Ile-Ife stadium, which has been reduced to rubble over the years.

Members of the association lamented that the abandonment of the stadia has worsened youth unemployment, stifled sporting development, and turned many once-promising athletes into social miscreants.

“Our stadium in Ile-Ife today is a shadow of itself, and it breaks our hearts,” Adebisi Adelowo Ogunleye, a member of the association, told The Gazette. “Many of our young people who could have been stars are now idle. Some of them have turned to hooliganism and drugs because there are no facilities to nurture their talents. We cannot overstate how much damage this neglect has caused.”

President of the association, Rufus Adedoyin, also revealed that successive governments in the state abandoned grassroots sports, leaving communities frustrated.

Similarly, the group’s diaspora chairman – Animasahun Babatunde – a youth coach and member of the association, said the neglect of the stadia had pushed several budding athletes into despair. “Youths who had bright futures in football, athletics and other sports have been left with nothing. Some of them are now wasting away on the streets. Sports is not just about leisure; it is a tool for development,” Mr Ojo told The Gazette.

Two other members, Ikotun Babatunde and Babalola Olabode Kayode, lamented the long years of decay and called for urgent government action. “In Ile-Ife, we don’t have a single functional stadium. The pitches are gone, the stands are broken, the stadium is covered in grass, and the environment is unsafe, Mr Babatunde said, while Mr Kayode noted that, “If the government is serious about tackling insecurity and unemployment, it must invest in sports infrastructure.”

Speaking with The Gazette, the chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Abiola Jeremiah Awoyeye, while corroborating the deputy governor’s remarks, said the rot dated back to Mr Aregbesola’s tenure. “During Oyinlola’s administration, plans were in place for six stadia. But before his second term could fully take off, Aregbesola won at the court and became governor. He abandoned the projects. The next APC government also neglected them,” Mr Awoyeye said.

He added that Mr Adeleke had already approved budgetary allocations covering about 30 sports, doubled athletes’ wages, and initiated perimeter fencing of stadium lands to prevent encroachment. He further disclosed that Osun State recently placed ninth at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta, Ogun State — the first time in many years the state achieved such a ranking — attributing the feat to the administration’s renewed investment in sports.

“We cannot allow our sports to continue to suffer. This government has shown commitment, and the results are already showing,” Mr Awoyeye stressed.

Residents of Ile-Ife and members of the Ife Soccer Ambassadors’ Association told The Gazette that they await the practical delivery of the projects.