The National Institute for Sports, NIS, has ordered unauthorized occupants of a 200-bed hostel at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, to vacate the premises by December.
The directive comes amid a dispute between the NIS and the National Sports Commission, NSC, over the ownership and control of the hostel, with both institutions issuing separate quit notices to occupants of the building.
Jude Abu, Head of the Works Department at NIS, raised concerns over the ownership of the facility during a guided tour of the building with newsmen in Abuja.
Ben Ogbemudia, Special Assistant, Media, to the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NIS ADC, Abuja, quoting him in a statement as saying that the complex belonged to the institute. “The ownership of the property is not in doubt and remains vested in the institute,” Abu said.
The hostel, located opposite the Athletes Development Centre, ADC, Package B, within the stadium complex, has become the centre of the dispute following the issuance of separate quit notices by the NIS and NSC.
Abu expressed displeasure over the alleged removal of an official NIS notice from the premises by the NSC on September 20. He claimed that the notice was replaced with an eviction notice issued under the authority of the NSC.
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Abu described the action as provocative and unlawful, urging the commission to stay clear of NIS facilities within the stadium complex.
He reaffirmed that the hostel remained a NIS facility and was essential to the institute’s operations, particularly the accommodation of students undertaking programmes at its Abuja centre.
“Both the NIS and NSC are independent government parastatals. The NIS is in no way subservient to the NSC,” Ogbemudia quoted Abu as saying.
The facility was commissioned as a hostel for NIS students during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and an official plaque at the premises commemorated its commissioning as an NIS facility, Abu said.
Abu called on all unauthorized occupants and intruders to vacate the premises on or before December 31. He warned that failure to comply would compel the NIS to take legal action to reclaim the facility.
“I call on all unauthorised occupants and intruders to vacate the premises on or before Dec. 31. Failure to comply will compel NIS to take necessary legal action to reclaim the facility,” he said.
NAN
