We Need N81 Million To Cut Grass In Abuja Stadium — Sports Minister

Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, has revealed it will cost the ministry N81 million to cut the grass and clear the weed that have taken over the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Dare while while speaking during the one-day seminar organised by the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) FCT chapter, made the disclosure.

He stated that the ministry approached the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) for inspection of the weed in the stadium and was told it will cost them N81 million to cut.

The stadium was built in 2003 with N53 billion on a 29 hectares (72 acres) of land. It is also divided into Package A which houses the Main Bowl and Package B which houses other facilities like basketball courts, NFF office, volleyball courts, tennis courts, squash courts.

“We approached AEPB to come see what can be done to clear the grass and weed in the stadium and they told us it will cost us N81m.

“If we tell Nigerians we used N81m which is not even available, there will be an outcry. The funds are not really there for us and that is why we are partnering with private investors to bring back the key components of our infrastructures,” he revealed.