Nigeria Content Online

The minister of
sports and chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Ibrahim
Isa Bio, on Monday in Abuja, stated that the Anti Doping Laboratory at
the National Stadium in Abuja would become functional within the
shortest possible time.

The minister who
went on a tour of facilities within the stadium in the company of NSC
Director General,Patrick Ekeji, assured that every equipment needed to
make the anti-doping facility operational would be purchased and
personnel with requisite expertise needed to operate them employed.

The minister’s
comments came on the heels of Ekeji’s statement that the laboratory
needed injection of funds to make it functional. He noted that the
facility needs a generator and other equipment to make it work.

Ekeji told the
minister that the laboratory is the first of its kind in West Africa
and he assured the minister that that when operational, the facility
will pay for itself as all the doping tests at all major championship
in Nigeria, which are presently conducted outside Nigeria, will be done
at the laboratory.

Raphael Odi, a
staff of the department informed the minister that he and his
colleagues have been trained in Malaysia on how to use the equipment
and that all that is needed is for equipment to be complete and a
generator provided.

No water

Continuing his
inspection at the stadium, the minister was surprised to discover that
there was no water supply at the complex despite approving money for
the payment of debts owed to the water corporation.

He ordered that the
matter be followed up immediately in order to ensure that water supply
to the stadium is restored immediately.

Apart from public
supply of water, Bio promised to restore within three months,
alternative supply of water to both the Abuja National Stadium and the
National Stadium in Lagos.

He also said that a
borehole would be constructed at both stadia so that there will be
water always irrespective of whether the public water is constant or
not.

The minister
expressed displeasure at the present situation where the NSC pays
commercial rates for electricity supplied by the Power Holding
Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN). He held that since the stadia are not
involved in manufacturing, but are only used in the provision of social
service, the NSC should not be paying commercial rates on them.

He mandated Ekeji
to discuss with officials of PHCN to explore ways the commission will
begin to pay normal rates. He also suggested that the ministry make
annual payments for water and electricity instead of the current
monthly payment pattern.

At the site where
contractors are working on the 200-room athlete’s hostel, Bio
complained about the slow pace of work noting that he could not
understand why the work was yet to be completed in spite of the fact
that the contractors had been paid.

At the Indoor
Sports Hall, he was surprised at the lack of activity in the facility
while observing that the exterior of the hall left much to be desired.

On getting to the
gymnasium he bemoaned the lack of maintenance culture and the neglect
of the place especially the damaged roof and harped on the need to keep
it in good condition noting that:

‘‘The Abuja Stadium
is one of the most beautiful asset we have in this country and must
protect it and utilize by attracting more sporting activities to the
stadium’’ ‘Said Bio.