The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare has announced the temporary closure of the National Stadium in Lagos after the collapse of a floodlight mast.
Dare took the decision Saturday after inspecting the Stadium the second time within two weeks.
Credible News reports that Dare inspected the stadium last Friday, promising to make his stand known after due assessment. He later ordered the closure of the stadium to avert any unforeseen circumstances.
“Thank God there was no casualty. I also inspected the three other floodlight masts and the effects of age and weather elements were visible. Clearly, they are also a suspect after 51 years.
“Based on my assessment, advice of experts and in the interest of public safety, there will be a temporary closure of the stadium and surrounding facilities. Proper assessment and necessary action will be taken soon”, the minister explained.
He said the concession process towards fully privatising the stadium which began last year will be expedited by the Federal Government through the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission towards a comprehensive rehabilitation and upgrade of the 51-year-old edifice.
He said the decision to impose extensive restrictions around the stadium was taken as a precaution.
He pleaded for the cooperation of all stakeholders for inconveniences arising from the decision.
Credible News reports that one of the floodlights pillars in Terrace K of the stadium caved in from the middle, forcing the floodlights to land on the empty space beside it.
An eyewitness, Temitope Oloyede, an athlete, who was at the stadium for his routine training said the pillar carrying thr floodlights fell during an heavy rains and windstorm.
No casualty was recorded.
Wednesday’s incident comes barely two weeks after the Minister Dare inspected the National Stadium to assess the level of decay at the national edifice.
Dare caused some uproar when he said the Federal Government would need N21bn to renovate the stadium as he disclosed that an integrity test carried out on the stands at the stadium revealed that only only 40 per cent was certified okay.
“What is needed to fix the National Stadium Surulere after 17 plus years of neglect is in excess of 21 billion naira, about 45 million dollars, of which we have just about 500m naira from private and government funding.
“There is a limit to what can be fixed,” the minister wrote on Twitter after his previous inspection of the stadium.
“Upon assumption of office in 2019, I met the National Stadium in a completely run down state. Left to rot for almost 17 plus years. No renovations (or) upgrades. Illegal occupants had taken over. The Illegal occupants had distorted the original plan,” he explained.
The stadium was built in 1972. It was then one of Africa’s iconic sporting arenas, hosting international sporting events including the All African Games in 1973; the 1980 and 2000 African Cup of Nations finals and the U-20 World Cup in 1999.
However, the stadium has been left to rot for close to two decades, with successive administrations making budgetary provisions for renovation without acting.
