Hand over National Stadium to Lagos, Olympia tells FG

As more Nigerians continue to lament the decay of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, former national heavyweight wrestling champion, Christopher Columbus Madogwe popularly known as “Mr Olympia 1″ has urged the Federal Government to handover the edifice to the Lagos State Government for proper maintenance and usage.

Olympia who is the immediate past secretary of Nigeria (PRO) Wrestling Federation, noted that it is worrisome that the stadium which is a national pride and has hosted important sporting events in the past has been abandoned with almost all the facilities in terrible state; saying it is a national disgrace.

“It’s very unfortunate that the national stadium which is a national monument is now in total disrepair. I remember in those days when as a young boy, we saw it as a pride to go to the stadium and watch some sporting events but it is unfortunate that such an edifice which has hosted important sporting events is now a shadow of itself,” he said with a tinge of regret.

“When you visit the National Stadium, you will be shocked with the level of decay there. A section of the covered stand of the main bowl has been blown off, the grasses turned to brown, and the tartan tracks have all peeled off.

The Indoor Sports Hall, knock- up hall, squash hall, wrestling arena, boxing gym and others including the offices are in terrible condition and as such something urgent need to be done about it,“ he stated.

According to him, the Federal Government should do the needful and hand over the stadium to the Lagos State Government who will be in a better position to repair it and bring back its lost glory.

“There is need for the Federal Government to hand it over to the Lagos State Government for proper maintenance because the Federal Government have a lot of responsibilities to contend with and if the stadium is handed over to Lagos, I believe the state will turn around the fortune and put it back to maximum use,” he concluded.