The Ogun State House of Assembly has called for the immediate review of all financial agreements including the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contractual agreements between corporate organisations, Stadia across the State as well as the State Ministry of Youth and Sports.
Members of the Assembly’s Committee on Youth and Employment Generation led by Hon. Olusola Adams, made the call while appraising the 2019 budget performance of MDAs under its purview including the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Team Ogun, State Sports Council as well as Gateway Stadia at Ijebu-Ode, Ilaro, Sagamu and Abeokuta, explaining that the review became imperative to ensure that the rent payable were realistic to the present economic value of the properties.
Hon. Adams in company of other members including Musefiu Lamidi, Bolanle Ajayi, Haruna Wahab, Adegoke Adeyanju and Yusuf Amosun, requested proper maintenence of sporting facilities and apparatus as sporting activities remained a veritable avenue to engage youth for more productivity.
The lawmakers commended the management team of the ministry for devising plans to review the payment of space in the entertainment arena of the MKO Stadium, Kuto to N500 per square meter with a view to improving on the revenue drive of the Ministry.
Responding, the Permanent Secretary in charge of the Ministry, Kola Fagbohun, disclosed that the ministry was presently undergoing administrative reforms to ensure the sustainability of sporting agency towards engaging more private partners to give a face-lift to sporting facilities in the State, while promoting sports excellence through grassroots sports development.
In their various remarks, the Heads of Gateway International Stadia, Ilaro, Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu and MKO Abiola stadium in Abeokuta, Adeleye Adeleke, Ikufisile Okufemi, Mrs. Omoniyi Abiodun and Taofeek Oduwaye appealed for the release of more funds to upgrade sporting facilites and equipment towards enhancing sporting development in the State.
