(Video): Tractor Sighted Working On MKO Abiola Stadium Pitch

Tractor Sighted Working On MKO Abiola Stadium Pitch

By Niyi Busari

Renovation work has commenced on the pitch of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, BSNSports.com.ng can confirm.

On Wednesday (today) tractor was sighted on the pitch uprooting the bushy grass for replacement of grass that will beautify and make it playable.

This comes after nine months of Dangote’s commitment which finally came to reality on Wednesday fulfilling his promise to renovate the 60,000 capacity stadium, which has morphed from a monument of national pride to a site of national embarrassment, with dilapidated facilities, grass and garbage littering virtually every spot.

Last Wednesday, at the handing over ceremony in Abuja, the Group Executive Director, Dangote Group, Mansur Ahmed, affirmed that the billionaire businessman would ensure the main bowl of the stadium is restored to world-class.

A statement from the sports ministry said all is now set for contractors to “move to site” as the finalisation of agreements with the Dangote Group is nearly complete.

The ministry said the process to start the renovation work was disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic but with things starting to open up, work is now set to begin in earnest.

Billionaire businessman and philanthropist Alhaji Aliko Dangote had, last year, pledged to renovate certain areas of the long-neglected stadium.

Speaking about the ministry plans for other national stadiums, Dare said a process to concession the stadium in Lagos is ongoing and added that ministry hopes to secure ” special intervention funds of about 5-10 billion naira” from the federal government to renovate other stadiums.

” In the next couple of weeks, we will have those who are interested in taking over the National Stadium, Surulere concession and hostel come forth and the normal process of concession will take place.

“We are also looking for special intervention funds of about 5-10 billion Naira from the government that would enable us renovate and upgrade other sporting assets across the country,” Dare assured.”