The plan by the Federal Government to concession the National Stadium in Lagos has continued to receive knocks from stakeholders who describe the move as another example of a lack of direction on the part of authorities.
Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission Bolaji Abdullahi announced the concession option recently, but stakeholders are miffed by what they see as deceit, in view of the fact that the stadium has already been ‘sold’ albeit piecemeal to certain individuals and concerns, just as they wonder what will happen to these businesses that are already operating in the stadium, assuming government effects the concession this time.
A concession or concession agreement is a grant of rights, land or property by a government, local authority, corporation, individual or other legal entity.
Public services such as water supply may be operated as a concession. In the case of a public service concession, a private company enters into an agreement with the government to have the exclusive right to operate, maintain and carry out investment in a public utility for a given number of years.
Talk of concession as a way of arresting the dilapidation and decay the stadium has sunk into first came in 2012, but nothing concrete was done until the Minister announced the latest move.
The stadium, which in its long history hosted several international competitions and memorable matches, has suffered long years of abandonment and decay. The last time a major competition took place there was in 2000 during the African Nations Cup, which was co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
Since then, the Surulere Stadium has become a rendezvous for lovers who throng the numerous recreation spots like Ojez, Old Skuul, NSC (Staff) Cooperative etc. seeking fun.
These beer parlours have become the main attraction of the place which in its heyday was known as ‘Sports City’ for being the haven of sporting activities in the country.
It is also the favourite ground for the various religious groups with Christians and Muslims frequently holding their worship sessions there.
Only traditional African worshippers have not started taking their own instruments of trade to the stadium as yet. The stadium also serves as a parking lot for the Teslim Balogun Stadium across the street, which is now the place of choice for international matches billed for Lagos, as a result of its playing surface which is artificial and less difficult to maintain.
Although the modalities for the concession are yet to be made public, Abdullahi is expected to constitute a Project Steering Committee and a Project Delivery Committee, which will liaise with the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission to draw up modalities for the concession, but stakeholders are not overly excited.
“It is a sham. It shows that there is no direction as usual. What do they mean by concession when the stadium from all indications is already under concession,” wonders Tony Ubani a member of the board of the Nigeria Olympic Committee.
“What are Ojez and Old Skool doing at the stadium? Ojez for instance already owns half of the stadium. They sold the place before coming out with the concession plan. There is nothing wrong with concessioning by the way, but it must be done properly through competitive bidding, openly so that there will be a level playing field for everyone interested.
“But as it is now, interested parties are already operating in the place. The process will not be open; that is my worry and ironically it is the NSC that has been giving the stadium away to these interested parties. Again, who says another minister won’t come on board tomorrow and stop the whole process?”
Sports commentator Ikeddy Isiguzo says the concession plan in itself is not something to be overly excited about. According to him, the important thing is to do something about the state of the stadium, regardless of by whatever name it is called.
“There is nothing to be excited about as far as I am concerned because this is not the first time they are coming up with that kind of thing,” Isiguzo adds.
“Whether it is a form of management partnership, concession, outright sale or by whatever name it is called is not the important thing. What should concern and interest Nigerians is that the arrangement is done in such a way that the facility will be well managed going forward and importantly it will still be used for sports.”
Godwin Spiff Sagbama, Managing Director of Hally Sports International, a sports marketing and consulting company, argues that the longer the stadium remains with the government the more dilapidation it will suffer, given government’s failure to rise to its responsibility in this regard.
Sagbama’s position however, is that the private concerns that will get the concession right must be made to sign an undertaking that the facility will still be used for sporting activities.
“It is very important that Nigerians know what the private concerns that get the concession right wants to do with the stadium. The National Stadium is a national icon that evokes a lot of memories and emotions and people want to be sure that it will remain a venue for sporting activities,” says Sagbama. This must be impressed on the private owners; athletes must be allowed access to the venue without any molestation. Yes it is private but it has to be a kind of private, open arrangement.”
Stakeholders wonder why the National Stadium which is something of a national monument will be allowed to go to seed before an attempt is made to resuscitate it.
Most Nigerians spoken to wondered why the government failed to maintain the edifice over the years. The same question was posed about other sectors like health, education, power, arts and culture.
The Abuja National Stadium which was built for $360 million has begun to experience the same fate the one in Lagos has suffered. The stadium in the nation’s capital which hosted the All Africa Games in 2003 is all but abandoned.
First the velodrome collapsed some years ago and the playing surface became bad, so much so that the nation soccer team, the Super Eagles stopped playing international matches there.
Calabar in the South South has become the home of the national team.
A contract awarded to revamp the playing turf of the Abuja Stadium for N96m was so shoddily done that members of the House of Reps who inspected it after it was completed were furious as the grass easily came off.
The lack of maintenance is one issue that has reduced many of the national edifices into decrepit state, observers say.
“The fact that the stadium in Lagos can be neglected to that extent is something that is worrisome. That fact also makes it imperative to explore all available options as government has shown over time that it is incapable of managing anything. In England for instance, the stadiums are maintained by government or counties as the case may be,” adds Isiguzo.
Patrick Omorodion, spokesman of the Nigeria Basketball Federation maintains that government has failed woefully on the issue of maintaining the National Stadium, not only in Lagos but also the relatively newer one in the Federal Capital Territory.
“That stadium in Lagos is a sad reminder of government’s inability to manage or maintain its facilities. Even the one in Abuja, right under their noses has already begun to suffer from neglect. When was the last time that the stadium there was used?” asks Omorodion who adds that it may be a better option to give it out to those who can manage it well.
By: Vincent Eboigbe
