NGO petitions house committee, seeks probe of ex-minister Dare’s $3m stadium renovation funds

By Ezurike Ugochukwu 

A non-governmental organization, Athletics and Sports Development Initiative(ASDI), has petitioned the House of Representatives to investigate former Sports Minister Sunday Dare over alleged mismanagement of funds donated for stadium renovations.

The ASDI in a press statement through its Chairman, Board of Trustees(BoT) Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, has specifically asked Dare to account for $1 million donated by Aliko Dangote for the renovation of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja and $2 million allegedly received from Baba-Ijebu for the renovation of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

Gara-Gombe has therefore commended the House of Representatives sports committee members for the desire to investigate the Nigeria Football Federation’s FIFA Projects in Nigeria.

The NGO accused Dare of abandoning such projects as the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos and the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, in which over two million dollars were expended after collecting the funds, and has urged the House Committee to probe his tenure as Sports Minister.

The development has sparked calls for transparency and accountability in the management of sports funds in Nigeria.

Details of the press statement read thus:

“My name is Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Athletics and Sports Development Initiative, a non-governmental organization established to promote accountability, transparency, and good governance in Nigeria’s sports industry.

Hon. Gara-Gombe

“We welcome the investigation into the football industry, but we also urge the House of Representatives to be fair and impartial. Specifically, we request that the House asks former Sports Ministers to account for funds received for projects in the sports industry.

“We’d like to draw attention to a more pressing issue than the FIFA funds. Specifically, the alleged mismanagement of funds for stadium renovations. Aliko Dangote donated $1 million for the renovation of the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, while Baba Ijebu donated a similar amount or more for the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

“The recipient and supervisor of these projects was Sunday Dare, the former Minister of Sports. We urge the House of Representatives to ask Dare to account for these funds, just as they are investigating the NFF over FIFA grants.

It’s worth noting that despite spending $1 million, the Abuja stadium was downgraded to Level One by CAF and cannot host international matches.

The situation in Lagos is even more alarming, where traders were forcefully removed from the stadium, and the renovation project was abandoned midway.

“Nigerians deserve to know what happened to the FIFA funds, not just in Kebbi, but also in other parts of the country, such as Ogborodo in Delta State. Additionally, we want to know the details of the Dangote and Baba Ijebu grants.

“We request that the House Committee investigates these matters and ensures transparency and accountability in the sports industry. It’s embarrassing that the only stadium qualified to host FIFA and CAF competitions in Nigeria is the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

“Even the Remo facility in Ikenne was only approved for preliminary stages, and that too after a private inspection arranged by Kunle Soname. Notably, the Moroccans were allowed to play in Ikenne last year on condition that they would move to Uyo if they progressed to the group stage. I had to personally intervene to assure them of safety and quality, and we even provided DSS escorts for their stay in Abeokuta and Ikenne.”