The Federal Government has handed over the pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium to the Dangote Group, for the commencement of rehabilitation work.
According to the Youth and Sports Development Minister, Sunday Dare, the renovation work will be completed in 24 weeks.
The Minister reiterated the promise made on the assumption of office a year ago that the pitch and indeed other facilities will be revived, in line with the Ministry’s policy of Adopt Campaign.
‘’I promised that this pitch and indeed other facilities will be revived and put to best use by athletes.
“In line with that mandate, we sought the support of many philanthropists and sold them our vision of bringing back the glory days when our national stadia were filled to capacity on football game days which were the melting pot of various cultures and people of all ages.
The Minister thanked the President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote for responding to the call to restore the edifice.
“After months of discussions, planning and processing, that promise has come to fulfilment today with the kick-off of the project… the football pitch will be getting the long-overdue facelift it deserves,” the minister said.
Mr Dare commended Alhaji Dangote and his group for believing in the vision of the Ministry by agreeing to partner with it to restore the fading glory of the edifice.
The Minister explained: “This landmark event reinforces my faith in the public-private sector partnership in line with Government’s efforts at delivering on our mandate.
“Government alone cannot fund sports and maintain facilities. We need more private corporations to take a cue from what Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Chief Adebutu Kessington have done in supporting our drive to renovate and maintain our facilities for use by our athletes and to play host to international events.”