FIFA U-17 World Cup ‘ll open economic doors - Fashola

Ade Somefun, Abidjan - 01.05.2008

Samuel Peter (left) exchanges punches
with Oleg MaskaevLAGOS State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola(SAN) has said that the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled to hold in the country next year will open economic window for the country.

Fashola who spoke during the inauguration of the Lagos Sub-Seat of the Local Organisation Committee (LOC) said that the country’s economy will benefit immensely from the championship through wide business and infrastructural development it guarantees.

He called on the federal government to see the hosting right as an opportunity to showcase the country to the international community and erase some erroneous impressions about the nation.

“Apart from re-affirming our commitment to youth development, the hosting will afford us the opportunity to disprove the erroneous impressions the outside world hold about Nigeria.

“It will also enable us to lay a solid infrastructural foundation in sport for the present and future Nigerians”.

Governor Fashola cited Ghana and South Africa as example of nations who took advantage of such opportunity to develop their infrastructure. ” Ghana has new roads, hotels, stadia and they enjoyed economic boom while the championship lasted, he said.

Fashola called on the National Assembly to make supplementary appropriation to the National Sports Commission (NSC)to enable the Local Organising Committee (LOC) to effectively prepare for the hosting of the championship, according to him: “It is in the interest of the nation.”

Chairman of the Sub-Seat, Amanze Uchegbulam thanked governor Fashola for “all the support and commitment to the project and being the first to inaugurate a Sub-Seat”

“ Lagos has set the pace and we will continue in that stride to ensure that we emerged the best Sub-Seat at the end of the day,” he said.