28th March, 2012
The Lagos State House of Assembly has directed the Ministry of Youth Sports and Social Development to beef up security at the construction site of Jalisco Sports Centre in Oshodi to enable contractors to carry out construction work.
Chairman, House Committee on Youth, Sports and Social Development, Lawrence Ayeni, gave the directive during a meeting with the Special Adviser on Youth to the Governor, Mr. Dolapo Badru and the management of the Sports Centre.
The meeting was sequel to a petition forwarded to the House on the closure of the centre by the Oshodi Local Government Council Chairman, Bolaji Ariyoh, over alleged criminal activities in the place.
The committee also invited the Council Chairman to appear before it next week to clarify issues relating to the closure of the Centre.
Ayeni instructed that the since the Centre belongs to the state government, the Ministry and the Office of Youth should ensure that adequate protection of property are in place for the contractor handling the project to carry out its duty diligently.
“Oshodi has been chosen as one of the centres that would host the National Sports Festival and we must be part of that history.
“We would not fold our hands while some groups would hold us to ransom because of their selfish interests,” he said.
Responding, Mr. Badru pledged to deal with anybody or group of people that vandalise government property.
—Eromosele Ebhomele