The Vice-Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Dr Yahaya Abdulahi, on Monday said the committee was sad about the poor state of the stadium and would ensure the senate made necessary decision on it.
Abdulahi, who led the committee members, made the assertion while speaking with newsmen during a visit to the National Stadium, Lagos, said the committee was saddled with bringing adequate attention to the nation’s sports facilities.
He said that the committee having gone round the sports edifice were sad about its poor state and would do a report for the senate to make necessary decision on it.
According to him, the senate is saddled with the responsibility of bringing the necessary people together to brainstorm on the possible ways of reviving the sports city.
“It is so sad to see that the situation of things is worse and from what we have seen, we still need to come back with an engineering team to do a proper evaluation.
“The target is bringing the sports edifice back to life and this requires adequate attention with collaboration of all stakeholders because of the poor state of the facilities.
“We will do our own report for the senate and engage other stakeholders that have business with rehabilitating the sports city to life,’’ Abdulahi said.
He added that when a proper evaluation had been done by other stakeholders, then there would be a deliberation based on reports whether to privatise or not.
“On our account we will present to the Senate on what we have seen, will enable it to engage other collaborators, the state governors and sports ministry to see what can be done.
“We will see how to turn these institutions around for the good of sports development in Nigeria, this we know require the best strategy to decide for the good of all.
“We are actually looking at the commercialisation and privatisation of these facilities, but it will still require the engineering/experts team to give their own report.
“So, whatever decision we take in the future will depend on the outcome of all reports as gathered by other teams and deliberations by all stakeholders,’’ Abdulahi said.
Other members of the committee on the visit include Senator Shabbala Lafiaji and Vincent Akpoture, the Acting Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprise.
