Abuja National Stadium

The Abuja National Stadium is now wearing a new look, thanks to the intervention of Sports  Minister and Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi who directed the Director of Facilities at the NSC, Abubakar Magaji, that the stadium’s glory must be restored.

Already, the grasses and weeds that President Goodluck Jonathan frowned on when he visited Super Eagles at training a fortnight ago have been cut.

Repair works at the stadium started on Friday, September 14th and the following day, a major part of the renovation had been carried out.

The Minister, it was learnt is not only interested in the renovation and repair of the National Stadium Abuja, but he is interested in ensuring that the routine work in all the facilities owned by the  Federal Government go ahead, while waiting for funds for their proper renovation and management.

Last Thursday, the minister queried the Magaji, over the sorry state of the Abuja Stadium.

NSC sources also hinted Sunday night that Minister has also directed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to put on hold the kick off of the 2012/2013 season of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) slated for October until all the issues relating to sponsorship, television rights, and hundreds of petitions against the current board have been resolved.

The source said that Abdullahi was bothered by the sorry state of the league, lack of sponsor for and the dispute over television rights.

“More worrisome to the minister is the allegations of how the money that accrued from the television rights was shared and the none resolution of various issues upon which petitions have been sent by to him by aggrieved parties,” observed the source.

No NPL executive board members could be reached for comments on the issue Sunday night.