Former Gombe State Football Association chairman, Alhaji Shuaib Gara Gombe, has accused two former Nigerian Ministers of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare, of being responsible for the decay that has rendered two of the nation’s biggest national stadiums — the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, and the National Stadium, Lagos — non-functional for years, Completesports.com reports.
Speaking during an interview on Monday in Abuja, Gara Gombe said the two former ministers failed to properly manage the facilities while in office.
He described it as shameful that Nigeria can no longer boast of more than one FIFA- and CAF-approved national stadiums, blaming the situation on their failure to take the necessary actions while in office.
Gara Gombe Demands Probe Into National Stadiums’ Concession Deals
“Nigerians should blame both men for the total decay of Nigeria’s most treasured sporting facilities, and I’m calling for a comprehensive investigation into the concession deals and funds earmarked for the renovation of the two national stadiums,” Gara Gombe stated.
“Honestly speaking, we have to hold two former sports ministers, Solomon Dalung and Sunday Dare, responsible for the current state of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, and the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. That is the truth.”
Also Read: Moshood Abiola National Stadium Will Be Fully Operational By December —Dikko
Gombe alleged that during Dalung’s tenure, key sections of the stadiums were concessioned under questionable circumstances. He pointed out that the swimming pool, the Games Village, the indoor sports hall and even the main gate were handed over to private interests, including a firm identified as O’jez.
He further claimed that there were allegations that the company paid large sums of money running into several millions of naira under unclear terms.
Gara Gombe asserted: “Money has changed hands, but for what reason, we don’t know. We also don’t know whether due process was followed or if the arrangements were ever publicly advertised.”
He also questioned the role of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission in overseeing such deals.
Gara Gombe Questions Use Of Dangote’s Renovation Funds
As for Chief Sunday Dare, who succeeded Dalung as sports minister, Gombe alleged that about ₦1 billion donated by Dangote to renovate the football pitch and electronic scoreboard of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, did not achieve the intended result. Instead, he claimed, the condition of the pitch deteriorated.
Also Read: FG To Install VAR Technology, Anti-Doping Laboratory Inside Abuja National Stadium
“It is unfortunate that instead of getting FIFA and CAF approval to host international matches, the stadium was downgraded by the international bodies to hosting only local competitions,” he said.
Only One FIFA-Approved Stadium Left In Nigeria, Says Gombe
“It is shameful that the only approved stadium in the country is the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo. I am calling on the Federal Government to investigate the two ministers as soon as possible,” Gombe concluded.
By Richard Jideaka (Abuja)
