The Kwara State Government on Wednesday said it has concluded a plan to renovate the indoor sports hall of the state stadium at the cost of N2.06bn to make it an ultra-modern sports facility.
Bola Mogaji, the chairman of the state’s sports commission, while speaking with sports writers in Ilorin, alleged that the previous administrations had neglected the indoor sports hall, adding that it led to its decadence.
Magaji, who said that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was determined to bring the stadium back to its pride, added that the renovation of the indoor sports hall would be completed in 12 months.
“Due to lack of maintenance, reptiles were even attacking some of our athletes. However, the sports hall will be much better than before when fully renovated. There will be many innovations; it will become a centre of tourism because local and international tournaments will be held in there.
“There will be an increase in sales among business outlets and offices in the stadium while hotels in the state capital and surroundings will get improved patronage because athletes will converge on the state anytime sports events are organised inside the hall.”
“The target is not aimed at financial gains or rewards really, but to make the youths shun drugs and hooliganism and be more useful to the state and themselves.”
The sports hall was constructed under the administration of Brigadier-General Agbazika Innih (retd.) in 1977.