By Ishaya ibrahim
The Nigerian government has started fulfilling its promise to the 1994 Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 Nations Cup in Tunisia.
Recall that the team won the Nations Cup during the military junta of General Sani Abacha who promised them houses in any part of the country. This 28-year-old promise remained unfulfilled until recently when the Federal Government started giving out keys to three-bedroom bungalows each to three of the 1994 Super Eagles players.
The beneficiaries of the houses are; Mutiu Adepoju, Ike Shorunmu, and Finidi George, and then team doctor, Akin Amao, who also received his house key.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, presented the keys to the players at the project site, in the Akinyele Local Government area of Oyo state.
Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who presented the keys to them at the project site, Onidundu in Akinyele Local Government area of Oyo state, said: “The beneficiaries are among the first set of Nigerians including the 1994 Super Eagles who would be handed keys to their houses that was promised by the Federal government over 28 years ago.
“We have entered a season of completion and handover of keys to beneficiaries in 35 states and the FCT to Nigerians who have successfully subscribed through the open ministry’s website for the sales of these completed houses.”
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In his goodwill message, the state governor, Seyi Makinde, said he was happy to see such a gigantic project in the state and assured that the allocation of the project land to the federal ministry of work and housing would be done by the state government.
Represented by the Director of Land Management, Makinde, urged the ministry to make use of other parts of the lands that have already been allocated.
Speaking with newsmen after the programme, the trio of Adepoju, Shorunmu and Yetunde Adeniyi, who stood in for Amao, thanked God for giving them the grace to witness such a great event.
Adepoju said, “I just have to be thankful to God and President Buhari for doing this during our lifetime. 28 years, I am happy and thank God for the honour.”
Shoronmu said, “I’ve never lost any hope in my country because if do I would have relocated to Europe.”
The Super Eagles 1994 squad won the Tunisia 1994 Africa Cup of Nations Cup (AFCON) tournament.