Shaibu, NIS Boss, Says Stadia Now Venue For Religious Activities

By Ayodele Oni

The Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, has observed that each time he goes to office, he is confronted by various religious programmes taking place at the national stadium, Abuja.

He decried the use of the nation’s stadia for religious activities, such as crusades.

He expressed his grievance when he took a tour of the NIS facilities at Etete, GRA, Benin City.

Shaibu pointed out that the nation’s stadia should be strictly meant for sports, adding that, when they have been converted to where religious activities and marriage ceremonies are held, the purpose of building them is defeated.

“The National Stadium, Surulere, is dead. National Stadium, Abuja is semi-dead. It’s only crusade programmes that we now do there. Church activities are what we now have in National Stadium in Abuja.

“Each time I move into my office, I’m not so happy because I’m moving and I’m seeing that from one crusade to the other in National Stadiums around the country.

“The National Stadium is not meant for church programmes or Islamic programmes. It’s meant for sporting activities”, Shaibu said.

The DG, while reacting to the question of investing in the nation’s sporting infrastructure by the government, admitted that though he is in support of it but the government should also take cognizance of its maintenance.

“I am for infrastructure development like I saw in Morocco, but I will not support money being thrown at building infrastructure without first having a plan of maintenance, because the major problem we have in this country is just maintenance.

“So, I am supporting governors and I’m also asking the federal government to invest in infrastructure development, but they should not throw money without a plan for maintenance because that has become a major problem.”

Shaibu, while speaking on the NIS facilities in Edo State, said the commission needs the support of the state government with a view of making more facilities available for the promotion of sports in the country.

“So I’m happy that the facility is still strong. Though the doors and some other facilities are already spoilt, which is normal, the Education Sport Commission, we are working in collaboration with them.

“We have all gone around to check. We are also seeking the state government’s collaboration. The offices we have seen here are not going to be enough for NIS.

“We’re already in talking terms with the Sport Commission and the state government to be able to provide other facilities that will make NIS work very fruitfully in Edo because Edo has been known to host South South in all tournaments”, he said.