NSC DG Visits Lagos But On Guided Tour Of Dilapidated National Stadium

New Director General of the National Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut, who paid an impromptu visit to National Stadium, Lagos Friday left stakeholders in shock because he gave no clue as to a direction sports would go under his regime. Save for queries to subordinates about security arrangement of the complex, especially the role of Nigeria Police at the sub-station, whether they have been of help or not in the fight against crime! for which no clear cut answers came. It was clear his subordinates lied because the Police have been in the forefront of curbing incidents of car theft and other crimes. The subordinates had lied because it was a way of making him believe they are working. It was clear that the visit was a no-show because the rising incidents of criminal activity in the complex had moved from minor breakages into sports- shops, food kiosks and beer bars, to high incidents of car thefts brought about by NSC’ policy of commercialization and the fact the sporting Edifice is now the ‘Centre of Owambe Parties’ in Lagos mostly at weekends’. These have added up in attracting criminals. And stake-holders who spoke on point of anonymity roundly tagged the DG’s visit a farce and wondered why he had not been taken to the hokey pitch to see true desertification in a sporting complex, why was the DG guided secretly to the Games Village without full complement of media-men because it was imperative he tells Nigerians why the facility is still under lock and key since 2003 when major renovation was effected under then director of Facility, Habu Gumel. As another put it could it be that the act was to hide the fact that the Games Village Hostel was being operated by a Restaurant owner and not NSC? It was clear the visit was only to assure staff-members who he had met behind in Camera at the media centre, that salaries would be paid. The DG again expressed worry that the swimming pools were in poor condition it was commercialized? He also voiced concern at the new Restaurant and Hall the in the Brai Ayonote Gym, saying ‘it was inappropriate’.

-ATS