By Hillary Asemota
The Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Mr. Sunday Dare, on Wednesday 12, said that the Ministry did not request for N12 billion for the rehabilitation of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.
Debunking the misleading report in some section of the media, Dare, said: “The attention of the Federal Ministry of Sports and Youth Development has been drawn to a report in some section of the media that it requested for the sum of N21 billion to rehabilitate the said stadium.
“Contrary to this report, it has become important to state clearly that the Ministry has not requested or received any such amount from government or individual.
The Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr. Mohammed Manga, in a statement made available to the media on Wednesday, said the Minister, in an interactive session with newsmen in Lagos last week only mentioned the figure as one of the estimated amounts from the proposals received which indicates that about that sum would be needed for the complete rehabilitation and upgrade of the national edifice based on submissions made by different companies and contractors.
“The Ministry therefore wishes to unequivocally make this clarification for the benefit of those who may not be conversant with the due processes involved in the execution of projects by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government, thus; that no such request nor approvals have been made as it is all still at the process of review of proposals.” The statement added.