Youth and Sport Development Minister Sunday Dare denied media reports that he is demanding N21 billion to repair the national stadium in Lagos, which is being refurbished through a public-private partnership 'Adopt-A-Pitch' initiative by the Federal Ministry for Youth will and sports development.
The Sports Minister, contrary to the report, said in a press statement by the Ministry's Director of Press and Public Information, Muhammed Manger, that the Ministry had not requested or received any such amount from the government or any individual. "The Federal Ministry of Sport and Youth Development has been made aware of a report in some parts of the media that it has requested the sum of N21 billion for the rehabilitation of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
“Contrary to this report, is It is important to state clearly that the Department has not requested or received any such amount from the Government or any individual
“The Minister for Sport and Youth, Mr Sunday Dare, in an interactive session with journalists in Lagos last week, mentioned only the figure as one of the estimated amounts from the proposals received suggesting that approximately this sum would be needed for the full refurbishment and modernization of the national building, based on submissions from various companies and contractors.
"The Department would therefore like to make this clarification unequivocally in favor those who may not be familiar with the proper procedures associated with the implementation of projects by government departments, departments and agencies (MDAs), therefore; that no such request nor approvals have been granted as everything is still in the process of reviewing proposals," the statement said.