By Uzor Odigbo
The co-chairman of the Ministerial Committee on ‘Restoration’ of the Lagos National Stadium and former technical director of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), retired navy commodore Omatseye Nesiama, has commended shop owners, who obeyed the eviction order by moving out of the stadium.
“We really commend those who obeyed the government notice to vacate the stadium,” .
“I want to assure them that we have their interest at heart.
Nesiama also told the Guardian that the committee is eager to accomplish the task and return the national monument to it’s glorious past.
With athletes, coaches in Nigeria and diaspora in mind, Nesiama insisted that the stadium has to be returned back to it’s former place of pride.
The retired naval chief who had never hidden his admiration and taste for good sporting environment vowed to complete the task despite pressures from all sources which he said was normal having served in similar capacities in the past.
“We are working with the Lagos State government, and we are being professional in our approach. We want to make the National Stadium a befitting place for athletes, coaches, all Nigerians and visitors from other countries. We have to bring it back to its original symbol of national pride,” Nesiama stated.
Credible sources however hinted that the exercise, which is aimed at returning the stadium to its original design, will see several ‘illegal structures,’ including the O’jez Bar and Old Skool joint being pulled down.
The National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, last hosted a major events in 2004, and since then, has since been abandoned for illegal occupants and reptlies to fester.
It was learnt that the 14-day eviction notice given to ‘illegal occupants’ to vacate the premises by the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development had ended.
The Committee insisted that the demolition of all ‘illegal structures’ would commence soon as only a few structures will remain at the end of the exercise,”
Notable restaurants inside the stadium such as, “The O’jez bar, Old Skool joint and other places will be pulled down. We are not out to witch-hunt anybody.” The committee said.
