BY SUNDAY AKINTOYE
As the much anticipated 2024/25 Nigeria National League NNL kicks off this weekend across the nation, one of the stadiums in Lagos, Agege Stadium known as Soccer Temple is still under renovation.
Six clubs are currently representing Lagos in the NNL and only Mobolaji Johnson Arena popularly known as Onikan Stadium is ready to host NNL league matches.
The contractor who had been handling the stadium almost four years ago has yet to deliver the job.
A visit to Agege Stadium recently to know the state of the arena showed that works have stopped and the contractor is nowhere to be found, while the two stadium goalposts were allegedly missing.
It was gathered that the contractor worked on the pitch four months ago only for him to stop the work with the excuse of unavailability of funds to complete the work.
It was also gathered that parts of the scoreboard were allegedly stolen.
The state of Agege Stadium gives football fans and other stakeholders a serious concern in the state.
Early this year, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was said to have promised football fans that he would complete Agege Stadium and other stadia under renovation before June, unfortunately, his promise has not come to fulfilment.
Report has it that the Lagos State Sports Commission is planning to summon the contractor for his negligence over the delay in completing the work given to him.
As the NNL begins this weekend, football fans in Agege, Alimosho, Ikeja and its environs expressed their displeasure over the delay of Agege Stadium and other stadiums in the state.
Fans complained that the economic situation of the country hindered them from going and watching football matches at Onikan Stadium, while some fans said the Sanwo-Olu government needs to declare a state of emergency on sports facilities in the state.
It was gathered that the Ifako-Ijaiye mini stadium is yet to be completed, while work is still in progress at Ikorodu Township stadium.
With the number of clubs playing NNL and NLO in the state, it is pertinent for the Lagos State Government to look into the state of sports facilities in the state.
If the state had many befitting and standard sports facilities, it would help football followers and athletes to show more interest in sporting activities.
Presently the NNL and NPFL clubs would now be using Onikan Stadium for their league matches which is not good enough for a state that has many sports facilities but under construction or renovation.
The government should also know that having many sporting facilities across three senatorial districts of the state or local governments would reduce social vices being perpetuated by the youths and there would be regular football competitions and sporting activities that would keep them busy in their various localities.
