Sports

Alleged N21bn Renovation of Surulere National Stadium: IMC Chairman Blasts Critics of Sports Minister

Published

3 years ago

April 12, 2023

….Says detractors don’t understand due process
Joel Ajayi
The Chairman of Interim Management Committee (IMC), Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye has blasted widespread media as well as social media on the criticism that Minister Of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare requested for the sum of N21 billion to rehabilitate the National Stadium, Surulere, in Lagos.

Contrary to this report, it has become important to state clearly that the Ministry has not requested or received any such amount from government or any individual.

The Sports and Youth Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare, in an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos last week, only mentioned the figure as one of the estimated amount from the proposals received which indicates that about that sum would be needed for the complete rehabilitation and upgrade of the national edifice based on submissions made by different companies and contractors.

In a chat with Journalists, while clearing the air on the issue, on Wednesday in Abuja, Elegbeleye said this is the first time he saw a working adopt-a-pitch initiative by the Minister in the history of Nigeria’s sports.

Elegbeleye, who was former National Sports Commission’s Director General with many years of experience in sports administration, expressed that many lack understanding of due process and derived pleasure in bringing people that are doing well down.

According to him, Some people just wake up from the wrong side of the bed, come up and malign people. Once they wake up, the first thing they think is what they would say today to discredit somebody who is performing.

“I was DG, NSC. I have been in the sports industry for years, this is the first time we would see a minister who is interested in facilities, he carried it on his head and is doing It.

“Many don’t know what it takes to renovate a stadium, a stadium is a complete empire of entertainment, not just where you play football alone, there will be shopping-mall, bank, executive lounge, hospital, and we have so many facilities in the stadium.

“The N21 billion is not from the ministry of sports, it’s just an estimate to bring the stadium back to life, what has that got to do with Sunday Dare? It’s just a proposal from a company, as other companies will bring their own.

“This is not the budget time, it’s not in the budget of the Ministry of youth and sports development, it’s a mere proposal from the company and he read it out, where did that one become a problem?

“Again, the Ministry can’t spend such an amount of money to give out the contract without going through the Bureau of Public Procurement BPP.

“I was DG, I know the process, proposals are coming from several companies, BPP will now do their own costing, that is what we call due process system, they will now know the cost of project and approve any one among the proposal that meet up and send it back to the Ministry, who will now send it to the Presidency for Federal Executive Council to discuss, then FEC will now discuss whether to do or not. So, what has that got to do with someone who is Minister.

“Meanwhile the Minister’s tenure is expiring next month, once the government approves it, the project will be for the new administration, not him. What has Chief Sunday Dare got to do with spending of the money, he wouldn’t be there when money is given.

“So, why would people just wake up in their life to keep maligning people, some people are easily for sale, they present themselves as items, commodities for sale so that they can malign people.” He blasted.

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Sports

AACT 2026: 31 Days to Africa’s Big Sporting Gathering in Abuja

Published

4 hours ago

October 2, 2026

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The countdown to the 2026 All Africa Challenge Trophy (AACT) has officially entered the final month, with just 31 days to go before Africa’s leading women’s team golf championship tees off at the IBB International Golf & Country Club in Abuja.

In a statement signed by the AACT 2026Director of Communication Kayode Adeniyi on Friday in Abuja.

Under the theme “Africa Is Coming to Abuja,” the countdown campaign will spotlight the championship, the participating nations, the players, the host venue and the growing development of women’s golf across the continent.

The 2026 AACT, scheduled for November 2–7, will bring together women’s golfing talent from across Africa for six days of continental competition in Nigeria’s capital.

As preparations continue at the IBB International Golf & Country Club, attention is increasingly turning to Abuja, where the championship will provide a platform for African golfers to compete while also showcasing Nigeria’s hospitality and the country’s growing profile as a destination for major sporting events.

The countdown will feature daily stories, interviews, player and country profiles, tournament facts, behind-the-scenes updates and features on the host venue as the championship draws closer.

The campaign will also highlight the role of the Ladies Golf Association of Nigeria (LGAN), the Local Organising Committee and other stakeholders in preparing for the continental championship.

With just 31 days remaining, anticipation is building across the African golfing community as Abuja prepares to welcome the continent’s leading women golfers.

Africa is coming to Abuja.

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