24 Years After Olympic Glory Bonfere Jo Gets Federal Government's House Gift

By Admin Nigeria won the Tunisia 1994 African Nations Cup by beating Zambia 2-1 in the final match in Tunis. And to show its appreciation to members of the team, the Federal Government, led by the late General Sani Abacha pledged a three-bedroom flat to each member of the team and their officials. While some members of the team got their flats shortly after the competition, some others, including the late Thompson Oliha, had been waiting for the day their rewards would be handed over to them. Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola while handing over the keys to the building to Bonfrere Jo in his office, said the gesture was apt, as it came at a time the nation was preparing for the biggest football event in the world. He recalled that the Federal Government made a similar pledge when the then Green Eagles, which metamorphosed into the Super Eagles, won the first Nations Cup for the country but nothing was done. “The government at that time promised the Green Eagles houses in Festac but nothing was done. But today, those who made the nation proud in that competition have also been given title papers for the land and government will fulfill her pledge to that effect too,” he said. Fashola said president Buhari was committed to solving issues no matter how long and enduring as manifest in the fulfillment of the pledge to the Green Eagles 38 years after. Beyond housing, the minister said government was committed to tackling road construction, giving an example on the Bonny/Bodo Bridge, which is under construction after two contractors in different administrations failed to deliver.