A binocular is an tool that helps in broadening one’s horizon and at the same time, bringing objects, and landscapes that are far into view.
This statement summarizes Sunday Dare’s impact on sports infrastructures in Nigeria.
The Minister for Youth and Sports audaciously embarked on an infrastructural development spree, after conceiving the idea of transforming sports infrastructures in the country. Not only did he incubate the vision, he facilitated fruitful partnerships with the private sector, bringing them into view, to drive development strides.
Over 50 sports infrastructural upgrade and maintenance projects have taken place under the the last four years of President Muhammadu Buhari, with Dare as the superintendent of the Sports Ministry. The Federal Government of Nigerian led by President Muhammadu Buhari showed incredible commitment in revitalizing sports infrastructure in the country, in a bid to maximize the large pool of natural talents, scattered all across the federation.
Some of the projects across some
facilities are as follows:
*MOSHOOD ABIOLA NATIONAL STADIUM, ABUJA*
1. Installation of new VAR compliant digital score board
2. Installation of new football pitch
3. Installation of new water sprinkler technology
4. Upgrading of nursery and re-grassing of playing turf
5. Rehabilitation of players’ changing rooms including SAUNA, bath and replacement of players’ lockers
6. Comprehensive renovation of the Velodrome complex including replacement of air conditioning units, plumbing repairs, electrical works and arrest of roof leakages
7. Procurement of new FIFA customized reserve players’ and official reserve benches, goalposts, nets and corner flags.
8. New Wi-Fi connection system for the stadium
9. 150 room sports hostel
10. Rehabilitation of 3×1000 KVA gen-sets with control panels, repair of synchronizing panel and connecting the 3 generators to the synchronizing panel.
11. Repair of blown off roof of the Indoor Sports Hall
12. Repair of mainbowl floodlights, testing and certification of the intensity by CAF approved contractor.
13. Installation of stand-alone solar streetlights.
14. Replacement and installation of CCTV cameras in strategic locations at the stadium for security and rehabilitation of its
control station
15. Repair of chillers for the central air conditioners.
16. Rehabilitation of Media center, Press conference room, Mixed zone area and VOC room
17. Procurement and laying of 3D carpets.
18. Rehabilitation of street and car park lights with the control panels.
19. Procurement and installation of Standing air conditioner units at the VIP, VVIP and Players’ changing rooms.
20. Rehabilitation of roller shutters, turnstiles and public toilets.
21. Renovation of Indoor Sports and Gymnasium Halls.
22. Renovation of Athletes Hostel including borehole installation and water supply reticulation.
23. Conversion of store to Medical Gymnasium.
NATIONAL STADIUM, SURULERE
1. Rehabilitation of the football pitch
2. Complete rehabilitation of the Water Sprinkler System
3. Procurement and installation of new digital scoreboard.
4. Reinvigoration of new 8 lane tartan track.
5. Removal of damaged roof and procurement of high back seats for the VIP section of the stadium.
6. Power supply system to sprinkler, control board at mainbowl and data cable connection to scoreboards.
7. Laying of a new athletes track base at mainbowl tartan track.
8. Rehabilitation of the strategic stadium office, workshop and the Association buildings.
9. Rehabilitation of water distribution tanks, replacement of rusty water pipes and procurement of water pump with water hose.
10. Procurement and installation of stand-alone solar powered security lights.
11. Overhaul and repair of 3 Generators (1no, 500KVA, 1no, 100KVA & 2no,40KVA)
12. Carrying out integrity test of the seating terrace of the mainbowl.
13. Cutting of trunks and evacuation of fallen 70m high floodlight mast to a designated place in Ayonote Boxing Gym area within the stadium.
14. Initiation of process to fully and legitimately acquire plots from various land grabbers.
15. Setting up of Ministerial Committees on sanitization of entire stadium.
16. Rehabilitation of the Games Village Hostel and transfer of its management to a private company for completion into 3-star hotel and effective management of facility.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF SPORTS, LAGOS
1. Rehabilitation of hostel building; Painting, Room furniture/bedding and fans.
2. Rehabilitation of facilities, including football pitch, basketball court, netball court, boxing arena, indoor sports screen.
3. Opening of entrepreneurial center.
4. Furnishing of classrooms, offices, conference hall and council chamber
5. constructions of new hostel and lecture theatre (ongoing).
6. Acquisition of new 400KVA generator.
7. Acquisition of research, teaching and learning equipment.
8. Acquisitions of medical lab equipment.
9. Equipping the clinic.
10. Rehabilitation of administrative block (interior painting).
11. Remodeling of the library and acquisition of new books, furniture, computers, E-library and expansion of library.
12. Provision of sports equipment for teaching, research and fitness centers.
AHMADU BELLO STADIUM, KADUNA
_Handed over to Kaduna State Government_
Completed the process of the effective handover of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium into the custody of the Kaduna State Government.
In 2020-2022 both Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development and Kaduna State Government spent over 200 million naira on maintenance. Kaduna State Government is now 100 per cent responsible for upgrades and maintenance.
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO STADIUM, IBADAN
Handing over process to Oyo State in progress .
1. Repair and upgrade of the indoor Basketball Hall.
2. Complete repairs of the multi-purpose auditorium.
3. General maintenance including the main gate,
replacement of electrical signposts and horticultural
works at the entrance gate.
4. Rehabilitation of borehole, treatment plant, storage tanks and water supply reticulation.
5. Re-grassing of the main bowl pitch, repair of booster pump, roof leakage repair and tartan track slab repairs.
6. Power supply restoration to the stadium through the national grid.
These projects and many others including the unmentioned Daura Township Stadium have been embarked upon successfully, by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare. There is no gain saying his tentacles have also extended to other areas of sports development including grassroots programmes, athletes welfare prioritization, stabilizing federations, as well as many other areas that has helped the country achieve success in various international competitions and tourneys in different sports.
Dare has dared to write his name in the anals of sports history in Nigeria and this has he acheived in an incredible manner.
