From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
Speaker House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and other sports stakeholders, on Tuesday, officially performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of $6 million (about N9 billion) players’ hostel and new training pitches sponsored by the world football governing body, FIFA.
President of the football federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, made the disclosure for the cost implications of the project speaking to newsmen on the sidelines at the event held at the Package B of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.
Present at the groundbreaking ceremony include National Assembly members, comprising Reps Speaker, Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Abdul Ningi, former Nigerian players, like Segun Odegbami, Domnic Iorfa, Victor Ikpeba, Samson Siasia, Mutiu Adepoju, Austin Eguaveon Precious Dede, Stella Mbachu among other players, comprehensive list of members of the NFF board, the chairmen State Football Association, and FIFA representatives.
Others include former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Philip Shauibu, Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, his Director General, Bukola Olopade, Controller General Nigeria Custom Service, Adewale Adeniyi, among other dignitaries.
Asked the cost implications and possible date of completion, the NFF boss said: “As for the cost, I don’t the amount in Naira but I can tell you that it will cost $6 million and we are hoping to complete the project before the end of my tenure.”
Earlier in his speech, Gusua said: “The vision behind the proposed hostel is to free the NFF of the humongous expenses incurred regularly in accommodating the different national teams. Once we have this place, the NFF can drastically reduce expenses on accommodation and then redirect such funds towards more critical areas, such as nurturing local football talent and bolstering the overall infrastructure of Nigeria football.”
Chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Ningi, said: “I want to profoundly appreciate the NFF over this legacy project. I want to urge FIFA to look inward and see what Nigeria has done in the past. Nigeria has provided talent for the world football governing body. Look at the galaxy of football legends assembled here. My prayer is that Nigeria will be the first African country to win the FIFA Would Cup in no distance time,” he wished.
Equally speaking before unavailing the groundbreaking ceremony, Speaker Abbas said: “History is about to be made. For the first time, the sports sector will get a big boost from FIFA and other stakeholders through the intervention of the sports ministry of the NSC and the NFF were able to facilitate this very important project.
“It is a project that will have far-reaching effects for the sports development of this country in terms of expectations, saving cost, revenue and at the same time enhance efficiency.
“I want to categorically make it clear that the National Assembly, particularly, the House of Representatives, is very happy with this initiative, the project and we will collaborate in ensuring that the project is completed in good time. We are ready to give all the additional support required to ensure that funds are released ask and when due.
“I also want to make the commitment and readiness of the House to look at other areas that are not captured by this initiative to give our support going forward in other areas that require our intervention,” he promised.