…says Stadia maintenance needs N1.2bn  annually

By Lawrence Olaoye

President Muhammadu Buhari will soon host Team Nigeria which finished second at the just concluded African Games in Rabat, Morocco.

The Minister of Sports, Sunday Dare, who briefed State House Correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting chaired by President Muhammad Buhari made the disclosure today.

According to him, the letter requesting the President to receive the medallists at the Presidential Villa had been written waiting for Buhari to give a date convenient for him to do so.

The victorious D’Tiger and D’Tigress will also be received by the President.

Dare said that Morocco outing will serve as a benchmark for the 2020 Olympics preparation.

Team Nigeria finished second at Rabat, Morocco behind Egypt at the just concluded  African Games and Nigeria won a total of 127 medals: 46 gold, 33 silver and 48 bronze.

The North African country, Egypt emerged top on the medal table with 99 gold medals, 96 silver and 69 bronze to bring their total medals to 264.  South Africa came third with a total of 87 medals.

Noting that Team Nigeria only had seven weeks to prepare for the African Games in Morocco, Dare said that Nigeria would have done better if it had a longer period to prepare. “So there is a lesson learnt from there,” he said

Dare said the athletes will leave for the Doha Meet on Saturday, adding that the outcome will determine Nigeria’s performance in the 2020 June Olympics in Tokyo

Speaking on the dilapidated nature of stadia across the country, the minister said that N1.2 billion is needed annually for stadia maintenance.

While stating that such fund is not available, Dare said that the ministry was exploiting partnership with the private sector.