The Federal Government will begin repair works on the roof and grasses of the main bowl of the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, formerly known as Liberty Stadium, Ibadan, next week.
Director of Procurement, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Segun Oke, who gave the assurance over the weekend, when House of Representatives Committee on Youth and Sports Development visited the stadium, assured Nigerians that the work would be completed within one week.
The Deputy Chairman, Committee on Sports, Olalekan Rasheed Afolabi, led the House Committee on the visit. Other members of the committee on the visit were Taiwo Adewale, representing Ibarapa East /Ido Federal Constituency and Ogene Egoh, from Amuwo Odofin Federal Constituency, Lagos.
The Guardian learnt that the repair of the roof and fixing of the grasses at the main bowl are in the 2021 budget. The Director assured Nigerians that the budget would not be rolled over, adding that after the completion of the items in the budget, the next phase of work at the stadium would be captured in the next budget.
He said: “I can assure you that what is budgeted for the stadium in the 2021 budget will not be rolled over. We are completing the process next week. After the completion of the process, the contractor will move to the site immediately.
“The way we are moving, as I am speaking with you now, my staff are going to sleep in the office throughout this weekend because we want to make sure we complete the process next week.
“I am giving you the assurance that we are completing the process next week by the grace of God. We are assuring the National Assembly and the whole nation that this place will wear a new look.”
The Deputy Chairman of House Committee on Sports, Afolabi, told journalists that the committee members came to the stadium to see things for themselves.
The Deputy Chairman said: “We are here to inspect the state of Liberty Stadium, to see if any job has commenced or not because we have appropriated money for the replacement of the roof, which was in the 2021 budget.
“We came here physically to see things for ourselves and get the assurance from those who are in charge of the Ministry of Sports Development, as regards the starting of the renovation of the roof and grassing of the main bowl. By now, we had expected the contractor to be on site.
“So, we are here now to see what is happening and ask some questions from the head of the team here, the Ministry of Youths and Sports to tell us the position of things as regards the renovation of roofing and some other parts of the stadium which are inside the 2021 budget.”
