By Stephen Adeleye.
Kogi State Government, on Monday, directed the illegal occupants of the Confluence Stadium Lokoja, to quit the premises within 14 days.
The state’s Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Monday Anyebe, gave the directive when he led a team to assess the extent of vandalisation at the stadium in Lokoja.
Anyebe said the team was in the Concluence stadium to assess the extent of vandalization by criminal elements who had carted away some equipment at the stadium.
He lamented the level of vandalisation describing it as ‘worrisome’, and vowed that Government would do everything possible to bring perpetrators of the heinous crime to book.
The commissioner, therefore ordered all the illegal occupants to vacate the premises within 14 days, after which they would be forcefully evicted and arrested for prosecution.
He also warned that the government would not allow miscreants to turn the stadium complex into harbouring criminal elements and vandalizing the sports facilities.
“All illegal occupants within the premises and the immediate perimeter fence of the Confluence Stadium Lokoja, should heed the directive to vacate the premises within 14 days.
“Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo would not condone any act of criminality in the state; anyone caught will face the full wrath of the law,” Anyebe warned.
Anyebe further disclosed that plans were ongoing to renovate the stadium to a world standard for easy sporting activities in the state.
He, therefore implored the perpetrators to desist from causing set back for the government in its quest to develop the state.
The commissioner stressed that adequate measures were being put in place to safeguard the sports facilities.
The Commissioner after assessing the stadium, visited the State Command of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
He intimated the NSCDC Command of the development and the need for collaboration with the Ministry towards providing adequate security for the stadium.
Anyebe appealed to the Command to work collectively with his office in ensuring that personnel of the Corps were posted to the facility to avoid recurrent vandalisation.
In his remarks, the Deputy Commandant, Bala Bodinga, on behalf of the state’s NSCDC Commandant, Paul Igwebuike, commended the commissioner and his encourage for the visit.
He described the visit as timely and assured the commissioner of the NSCDC collaboration to ensure the safety of facilities at the Stadium complex.
The Commissioner was accompanied by the Ministry’s Ag. Permanent Secretary, Mall. Yusuf Itodo; Ministry’s Sports Director, Mr. David Ogazuma; and Kogi State Director of Sports, Mr Obakachi Onipe among others.
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