Sports minister and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC) Professor Taoheed Adedoja at the weekend lamented the poor state of the main bowl, National stadium, Lagos.

National Stadium Lagos

The new sports minister who took over from Ibrahim Issah Bio who resigned his cabinet post to pursue his gubernatorial ambition in Kwara state was at the sports city to see the state of facilities by himself.
Adedoja who admitted to the sorry state of the once national sporting edifice said that everything will be done to restore the stadium to its former pride of place.

“We visited the main bowl where we are supposed to be having top flight football competitions but which had been last used nine years ago by the Super Eagles in a city like Lagos where you have the largest number of football fans. The main bowl is bad shape; we will bring back its former glory and put it to full use.”

The former Commissioner of Education in Oyo State who said it was the resolve of the federal government to put the facility to active use that the president appointed him to over the sports ministry, he vowed that he would be happy to be remembered as the minister who achieved the lofty dream.

“It is because of the conscious need of the president for change that I was appointed minister of sports and chairman, national sports commission, the agenda of the president will be carried out.

“This is the first time a professional is appointed the minister of sports so nothing less than excellence will be expected from me,” he said.

The minister equally visited other facilities within the stadium with the view of effecting necessary changes, previous ministers have had promises on the need to bring back the good old days of the stadium that were not realized.

The stadium reputed to be the best in Africa as at the time it was open in 1972 hosted Africa’s biggest multiple sports event, All Africa Games in 1972.