The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Tuesday said it had become obvious that the Federal Government could no longer manage sports facilities successfully.


He said that informed the decision of the current administration to continue with the concession agreement it inherited from the past government.
Dalung spoke with State House correspondents after his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari to brief him on the performance of the country at the Rio 2016 Paralympic Games.


The minister said, “I agree that there is under-utilisation of sports facilities in Abuja. That has taken us to the issue of concession.
“The facilities cannot be managed effectively by government, looking at the budgetary allocation for even the maintenance.
“Government cannot maintain those things. So what we intend to do is to proceed with the concession process we met on the ground.”


Dalung recalled that the Federal Executive Council had in 2012 approved the concession of the Abuja and Lagos stadiums.
He said the government had proceeded with the arrangements and had appointed consultants.
Advertisement


He said the ministry was at the stage of getting the approval of the Bureau of Public Enterprise.
Once that is done, Dalung said the ministry would proceed to call for bids and engage the private sector so that it could run the concession arrangement with them.


He added that the process of transforming the Abuja and Lagos stadiums was also ongoing.


The minister said, “We have also received the drawing on the proposed transformation of the places, which will include the creation of artificial lake at the Abuja Stadium that will provide for 12 water sports; then the building of a five-star hotel in Abuja.
“Lagos will have the same thing. The adjoining land will have a park and a five-star hotel.
“The moment you put these two, the economic status of the stadium will be uplifted and you will have foreign athletes coming in because there will be facilities. That’s the best way we can maximise the stadium in Abuja in view of how it was located.”


Dalung said he had suggested to Buhari that a befitting reception be organised in honour of the nation’s Paralympic team.
He said the President would take a final decision on the matter.


https://www.today.ng/sport/192243/set-abuja-lagos-stadiums-concession

..government should admit it failure and not result in selling of the country asset. we should stop encouraging the putting up of government asset to cronies, like as if it will be bid by the poor Masses, as usual it will be giving to themselves. since transition of PHCN and refinery have we witness any change? assuming it cannot be run by Nigeria government then how other countries are running their own?

to govern is not by force and if you can't do the job then resign and let someone who can manage and run them all take over.

fineboynl:
..government should admit it failure and not result in selling of the country asset. we should stop encouraging the putting up of government asset to cronies, like as if it will be bid by the poor Masses, as usual it will be giving to themselves. since transition of PHCN and refinery have we witness any change? assuming it cannot be run by Nigeria government then how other countries are running their own?

to govern is not by force and if you can't do the job then resign and let someone who can manage and run them all take over.

They should sell them with immediate effect

The only way Naija infrastructure will pay for itself and be profitable in the long run is to concession them... We have too much mutual distrust and the system is too lax and weak to manage those who don't want to do right.

fineboynl:
..government should admit it failure and not result in selling of the country asset. we should stop encouraging the putting up of government asset to cronies, like as if it will be bid by the poor Masses, as usual it will be giving to themselves. since transition of PHCN and refinery have we witness any change? assuming it cannot be run by Nigeria government then how other countries are running their own?

to govern is not by force and if you can't do the job then resign and let someone who can manage and run them all take over.

You people just like to yap like yall can manage just one dog or chicken!!! Like yall even have a handle over your own personal lives... Look around the world, most profitable businesses are not govt owned nor managed...

Apple, Coca cola, Microsoft, LVMH, AccelorMittal etc have zero to do with govt beyond providing legislation and policies to guide their processes and procedures..

Sports Arenas like Staples center, MDG,Emirates, Yankee stadium, Nou Camp, Etihad, Vicente Calderon etc are not managed by govt agencies hence why they keep getting it right.... Even Wembley that is F.A owned isn't managed that way, it's a sub company that manages it.


The S.Korean model is a peculiar one which we can't ever hope to sustain in this criminal minded society...

Y'all need to have some seats and ask if you don't know!