The Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Bolaji Abdullahi, has said the renovation of the National Stadium in Abuja will commence in January.
The Federal Government has awarded the contract for the renovation of the stadium to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and has directed that the renovation begins next month.
Abdullahi told the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday in Abuja that he had relocated his office to the stadium to 'breathe life back' to the facility.
“Of course, we have concluded arrangements with Julius Berger to bring alive the pitch of the main bowl and training grounds in January, after the holidays,” Abdullahi said.
“If we are able to get the pitch fixed, the Super Eagles and other national teams will have a good ground to train. Nobody can say we do not have a field where they can play anymore.”
According to the minister, the decision to embark on the renovation was based on President Goodluck Jonathan's visit to the stadium in September.
“I think that by relocating my office to the stadium, it will breathe life back into the stadium to a reasonable extent. The facilities on ground are being managed and cleaned up now.
“If we are able to sensitise the Nigeria Football Federation on the facilities available here, they can also use it for the various national teams and not just for the Eagles.”
