By OLASUNKANMI AKONI

IT is no longer news that the 18th National Sports Festival, Oko 2012,  has been scheduled for November 27 to December 9, 2012 in Lagos.

The Protocol Agreement of the Festival between the National Sports Commission and the Lagos State Government was signed on Thursday, December 9, 2011.

The Main Organising Committee, MOC, and the Local Organising Committee, LOC, chaired by the Deputy Governor, Mrs Adejoke Orelope – Adefulure, met on March 7, 2012. The meeting deliberated on a wide range of issues in respect of the successful hosting of the National Sports Festival tagged “Eko 2012”

LOC, lawmakers disagree: While the Chairman of the Local Organising Committee for the games and Deputy governor of the state, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire was on national radio last weekend telling the world that the state was ready to host the games, the Lagos State House of Assembly Members on inspection tour of facilities provided by the State for the forthcoming Festival have expressed concern over the slow pace of work at some selected venues for the event.

The Chairman, House Committee on Youth Sports and Social Development, Mr Babatunde Ayeni, said rehabilitation and construction works at the selected stadia are not satisfactory enough. Ayeni said the State government, having expended so much money on the organisation of the fiesta, would not compromise achieving its goals, hence all hands must be on deck.

The lawmaker, accompanied by two of his colleagues, Rotimi Olowo and Bashiru Oloto, said “we are not happy with the rate of work at Agege Stadium.” Ayeni observed that the parameter fence of the Stadium is not properly done, while the drainage system needs to be improved upon. According to him, “When the Main organization Committee of the National Sport visit our facilities in October, we want almost everything to be in place”.

Rotimi Olowo said the Committee wants both the Ministry of Works and Youth, Sports and Social Development to ensure adequate monitoring and supervision of the contractors handling the projects. Olowo further stated that Lagos State is known for excellence, therefore there is need for the State to organise a befitting National Sports Festival that would be the best ever.

At Rowe Park, Yaba, the committee was highly impressed on the massive rehabilitation work going on there and urged the contractor to speed up work in order to meet the deadline. The committee later visited Teslim Balogun Stadium where in-door games, track and field event will be held.

The Permanent Secretary, Youth and Sport Mr. Delano Adepoju-Conde , in his response, commended the committee for the visit and assure  them that the ministry would consistently send detailed report on the level of preparedness for the event to the House.