Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare has said the Federal Government will need the sum of N1.2 billion annually to maintain public stadia in the country some of which are already in sorry states.
The Minister gave the hint while briefing State House correspondents on Wednesday after the Federal Executive Council meeting.
According to Dare, the government was serious about renovating sports facilities in the country, especially the dilapidated federal stadia across the country.
He added that to maintain all the public stadia across the country, it will cost nothing less than N1.2billion.
He said this might be possible because of budgetary constraints; hence the government would explore options to bridge the gaps.
The Nigerian Tribune quoted Dare as saying the federal government may consider concessioning most of the stadia to the private sector as a way of ensuring proper maintenance in line with international standards.
He said:
“Government is serious about renovating sports facilities in the country, especially the dilapidated federal stadia across the country, but to maintain any of the public stadia scattered across the country, it will cost nothing less than N1.2billion.”
The minister also revealed that preparations for year 2020 Olympic games in Tokyo, Japan has begun, noting that there are plans to send most of the coaches to countries with better facilities as a way of enhancing their technical competence.
