The federal government has taken over the maintenance of the rehabilitated pitch and scoreboards of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, from Dangote Group.
This comes two years after the rehabilitation of the stadium’s pitch and scoreboards was completed and handed over to the former minister of youth and sports development, Chief Sunday Dare under the adopt ‘a pitch-initiative’ of the federal government.
The repair work was handled by Aron Nigeria Limited and sponsored by billionaire Aliko Dangote with a commitment of two years maintenance period which has now elapsed.
In a brief ceremony yesterday in Abuja, sports development minister, Senator John Owan Enoh, expressed delight with the completion of work and the handing over of the rehabilitated pitch and scoreboards to the government by the Dangote Group and Aron Nigeria Ltd.
The minister commended the companies for the completion of their two years post maintenance rehabilitation and called for increased collaboration between the government and the private sector to further advance sports development in Nigeria.
“As a country, we are indebted to Dangote Group for the huge resources it committed to the rehabilitation of the National Stadium. I look forward to more collaborative efforts between the government and the private sector to develop sports in our country,” stated Senator Enoh.
Despite the rehabilitation and two years post maintenance period by Dangote Group, Enoh expressed concern over the non-certification of the pitch by CAF and FIFA for their matches.
He stated his determination to reverse this tide, saying the Ministry under his leadership would work diligently to ensure the pitch meets international standards.
