Enugu Govt Assures Speedy Rehabilitation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium 

The Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu was inspected on Wednesday by the Enugu State government’s Ministry of Youth and Sports with the intention of renovating it.

Following the inspection, Barr. Lloyd Ekweremadu, Jr., the recently appointed Enugu State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, pledged to ensure the stadium’s prompt restoration so that the Rangers could play their home games in Enugu once more.

Recall that the previous administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi spent N185 million on the stadium’s repair during the previous two years but was unable to finish it.

Ekweremadu, who committed to promote the advancement of sports and youth development in the state, claimed that Gov. Peter Mbah’s government is interested in developing sports in the state generally as well as football specifically.

“The maiden inspection tour of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium was to determine the state of the stadium, and we all saw it. We have seen the facility and state of repair in certain aspects of the stadium and can see where it’s fair and manageable.

“Today we have assessed the whole place and seen that there is work to be done in the stadium. We will go back with our team and deliberate on the actual work to be done one by one, from the dressing rooms to the seats around the stadium, bathrooms, and roofing, In fact, we found out that there was some vandalism in some aspects, particularly the flood light and armoured cables.

“The government of Governor Peter Mbah is committed to the rehabilitation of sports facilities in Enugu State, and Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium is our flag off facility to be rehabilitated. I mean, a building bearing the name of Zik of Africa does not need to be in a state of disrepair, so the governor wants this place to be properly repaired and be in use.

“Whatever we do is to pass a bill or move a motion. On what the commissioner needs to make the government start work in earnest here, I must not hesitate to do that because we are all working to actualize the dream of the state government for the citizens,” he said.

“Enugu Rangers is not supposed to be playing their home matches outside this stadium considering what they represent. My governor have the repairing of the stadium as priority to ensure that Rangers come back in the shortest time to play their game matches at home. What we are here to do today is above turf, but in the shortest time, the Rangers will start playing their home matches at the cathedral.

Also speaking, the house committee chairman on sports, youth development, and security, Hon. Reymond Ngwu, assured the commissioner of his readiness to ensure speedy rehabilitation of Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and sports development in Enugu State.

“We have taken a total tour of the stadium, and you can see, myself and commissioner have a cordial relationship, and that’s why both of us were here.