***Moves to remodel 250 room V-Shape athletes hostel
By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Enoh has directed the permanent secretary to relocate all ministry’s departments at the Federal Secretariat to Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
Senator Enoh gave this directive after an inspection tour of stadium facilities both Package A and B.
Enoh said when he assumed office, the first place they took him to was the national stadium hence he has no choice but to operate from there instead of the Federal Secretariat where the past ministers operated from.
“When I was asked where I will operate from, I said it is the national stadium. I don’t have any business going to the federal secretariat. I have directed the permanent secretary that every other department of sports should relocate to the stadium.
“The permanent secretary is already working to allocate offices to those departments that are not here. This ministry is a ministry. I need to be where the action is, where the athletes are, where football is taking place, even for coordination purposes. Most of the departments are already here, so there is no point in staying at the federal secretariat,” he noted.
Meanwhile, the minister has promised to remodel and complete 250 rooms in the three stars V-shape athletes Hotel abandoned 20 years ago inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium Package B Abuja.
The V-shape three-star Hotel was built to have the athletes camp within the stadium facilities while preparing for both national and international competitions.
The three star hostel was built in 2003 as part of the country’s facilities for hosting the 9th All Africa Games under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo which brought smiles to the faces of Abuja sports lovers as well as a resident in its fullness
Speaking on Wednesday during an inspection tour of stadium facilities, the new Sports Minister who was not happy about the long time abandonment of the edifice by his predecessors vowed to bring the athletes hostel back to life. READ ALSO:
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“It’s unfortunate and unacceptable that this multi million edifice has been neglected for so long for reasons best known to my predecessors but I can assure you that under my watch every part of the Stadium will be functional, including the athletes’ hostel, because athletes must have the best, to be the best.
Continuing “Athletes Hostel was put in place for the comfort of our athletes and it remains very critical in terms of goal, objectives, and winning of laurels that Nigeria desires.
“Facilities and infrastructures are key components of sports, and they are variables that drive both elite and grassroots development,” the Minister said.
